S.56 pertaining to gifts, deemed gifts / under-valuations
- Sunday, April 22, 2012, 17:21
- Income Tax
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It is the considered view of the Government that
in the materialistic world in which we are living, gifts are not possible from
non-relatives. In the past, frequently claims were successfully made by
individuals about receipt of huge amounts as gifts from other individuals even
though the donor and the donee were not related to each other but there was
natural love and affection. Government has not accepted such situations. We
are also aware that recently Indian judiciary has recognized live-in
relationships. Such relations may be sometimes more
intimate than recognized blood relations. But so far as income tax law is
concerned, such relations would not be recognized and gifts in such relations
would also become taxable. Government has started taxing gifts of sum of money. Then realizing the possible
leakage in cases of gifts in kind now virtually in every budget proposals
Government has started thinking in terms of roping in more items in the list of gifts in kind.
Since October 2009 gifts of immovable properties
and specified immovable properties have been brought within
taxing purview. So far taxable entities for gifts were
only individuals and HUFs. By Finance Act, 2010 first step has been taken to
expand the scope of taxable entities also.
Provisions of section 56(2) : Reg.
popularly known as gifts :
Section 56(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 inter
alia deals with receipts without consideration. Since most of such receipts
tantamount to gifts, the provisions are popularly
known for gifts and deemed gifts. Till 30 09 2009 only sum of money received
without consideration was gift if the recipient is either an individual or a
HUF. By the Finance No.2 Act, 2009 with effect from 01 10 2009 the provisions
were so much expanded that they even included cases of immovable properties
received for inadequate consideration as compared to stamp valuation. The
expanded provisions also include receipt of specified movable properties either
without consideration or at inadequate consideration as compared to fair market value.
Pertinent to mention that even under expanded
provisions, gifts from relatives and under specified exceptions continue to be
beyond tax net.
Provisions as contained in section 50C
taxing sales of land or building or both operative
since 01 04 2002 affecting the vendors of such properties continue.
Provision for inadequate consideration to
be deleted :
While framing proposals in the Finance Act, 2010
it seems the Government realized negative effects on genuine transactions of
purchases of immovable properties and wiser counsel prevailed. Therefore, the
provision relating to inadequate consideration in transactions of immovable
properties has been deleted. With the result that if an individual or HUF
receives immovable property without consideration, the stamp valuation thereof
would be taxed as income. But if consideration is there but inadequate, there
would not be any taxation. However, as stated herein before, the seller would
continue to be taxed on capital gains on the basis of stamp valuation or sale
price whichever is higher. Buyer will not be affected in view of the amendments carried out by the Finance
Act, 2010.
Enhanced cost of acquisition when sold as
capital asset :
In transactions of immovable property received
without consideration or specified movable properties received without
consideration or at inadequate consideration, the provision continues that when
the recipient of immovable property was subjected to income tax on the basis of
stamp valuation or receipt of movable property was subjected to FMV, as the case
may be, then in future when he sells the same property, his cost of acquisition
of such capital asset would be such valuation which was subjected to income tax
earlier and indexation would also be available on such valuation being his
deemed enhanced cost of acquisition.
Relief provision with regard to stamp
valuation :
If the recipient of the property claims before
the income tax assessing officer that the stamp valuation is higher than the
fair market value thereof, then he has remedy either
to contest the stamp valuation before the concerned authorities or to request
the assessing officer for valuation by valuation officer to be appointed by the
income tax department. In such a case, if income tax valuation comes equal to
stamp valuation, then no case arises. But if the income tax valuation is lower
than the stamp valuation then income tax valuation would be adopted. However, if
the income tax valuation is determined higher than the stamp valuation, then
stamp valuation is adopted and higher income tax valuation is disregarded.
Therefore by seeking valuation by income tax department, the assessee cannot be
worse off than what he is due to stamp valuation. Similar relief provisions are
contained in section 50C for the vendor of the immovable property.
Immovable Properties would mean and
include :
The immovable properties in this context means
land or building or both. However, building should include part of the building
and therefore flats, shops, galas etc. should get included. Further one may like
to take a view that in a co-operative housing or premises society, what one is
transferring is a share
certificate and not an immovable property but one is not likely to
succeed in such a view because the decisions under the stamp duty and registration laws as well as under the
income tax laws are in one direction having taken a view that in such a case
share certificate is only in representative capacity
and what one is really transferring is an immovable property represented by such
share certificate.
Specified Movable Properties :
Provisions as inserted by the Finance (No. 2)
Act, 2009 also cover receipts, either by way of purchase or otherwise, of
specified movable properties namely shares and securities, jewellery,
archaeological collections, drawings, paintings, sculptures, any work of art.
Now by the Finance Act, 2010 a new item has been added w.e.f. 01 06 2010 and
that is “bullion”. Bullion would include gold, silver, platinum, or palladium,
in the form of bars or ingots. Some central banks use bullion for settlement of
international debt, and some investors purchase bullion as a hedge against
inflation.
In respect of such movable properties, it is
provided that if the aggregate fair market value of
such movable properties received during the year without consideration exceeds
Rs.50000/-, then such value is income in the hands of recipient. In a case one
receives such properties by payment of their respective prices, but if the
difference between the aggregate of prices so paid and the aggregate of fair
market values thereof exceeds Rs.50000/-, then such difference would be income
in the hands of the recipient. For purposes of determination of
fair market value, rules have already been framed
effective from 01 10 2009.
These provisions concerning movable properties as
enacted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2009 were enacted in such a manner that even
a purchaser of such movable properties in normal course of his business would
have got affected if the purchase was found to be at less than the prescribed
fair market value. To remove such hardship, the
provisions have been amended by the Finance Act, 2010 so that these provisions
with regard to movable properties would apply only when in the hands of the
recipient individual or HUF such movable property is a capital asset and not as
stock in trade.
Gifts received from relatives :
Section 56(2) inter alia provides that sums
received without consideration from following relatives are not income:
(i) spouse of the individual;
(ii) brother or sister of the individual;
(iii) brother or sister of the spouse of the
individual;
(iv) brother or sister of either of the parents of the individual;
(v) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the
individual;
(vi) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the
spouse of the individual;
(vii) spouse of the person referred to in clauses
(ii) to (vi).
Whether gifts received from relatives are
not taxable ? :
One cannot conclude like that Section 56(2)
provides that gifts received from non- relatives are income but no where in the
Income Tax Act,1961 it is provided that gifts received from relatives are not
income and therefore tax free. Therefore, it is not a case that section 56(2)
places the gift from relatives beyond taxing provisions. If gifts are received
from specified relatives, the recipient will have to prove genuineness of such
gifts with reference to identity of the donor, capacity of the donor, source of
funds of the donor, etc.
A company cannot receive a gift but can
receive at inadequate consideration :
Further, so far section 56(2) of the Income Tax
Act,1961 treats receipts without consideration as income if the recipient is an
individual or HUF. Other categories of assesses including a company and a firm
have been kept out of the taxing purview. Although in my considered view, a
company cannot receive gift under the general law as well as under the
provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
A gift necessarily involves a contract because
the gift to be valid and complete has to be accepted by the donee. Section 25 of
the Indian Contract Act, 1872 lays down a very basic law that a contract without
consideration is void ab initio. Relevant exception for the contract to be valid
without consideration is for an agreement in writing, registered under the
provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 and such an agreement is on account of
natural love and affection. The section does not affect to the gift actually
made by the donor to the donee.
A claim of gift by a company cannot sustain as
natural love and affection is not possible towards an artificial person.
Further, as far as gift of the property is concerned section 122 of the Transfer
of the Property Act, 1882 requires that transfer of property by way of gift
must be accepted by the donee and inter alia such acceptance must be made during
life time of the donor and before the donee dies. The provisions using the words
like death of donee are logically in the context of an individual and not in the
context of an artificial person. In such a view of the matter, it is not
possible for a company to claim gift and therefore receipts of sums of money
without consideration may not escape taxation in the hands of a company under
other provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Similarly, receipt of immovable
property or movable properties without consideration also may not escape
taxation in the hands of a company. However, if the company receives specified
movable properties at a price less than fair market value, the new provisions
concerning deemed undervaluation of properties would not cover such company and
therefore taxation u/s. 56(2) would not be attracted. None the less, the new
provisions of the receipt of specified movable properties for inadequate
consideration do not cover a company or a firm.
Firm and closely held company brought
within purview :
Finance Act, 2010 makes a starting point to tax a
firm and a company in a specified situation. The Finance Act, 2010 has provided
to tax a firm or a closely held company when it receives shares of a closely
held company either without consideration or at a consideration less than the
fair market value. The provisions will not apply if such shares are received in
the course of amalgamations, mergers, demergers and re-organisations. When
afterwards such company or firm transfers such shares the valuation whereof
either fully or partly subject to income tax, then at the time of subsequent
transfer of such shares, the cost of acquisition would be the fair market value
which was earlier taken into consideration for taxation u/s. 56(2). It is
pertinent to mention here that as far as this category is concerned, the Act
does not distinguish between receipt as capital asset and receipt as stock in
trade.
Gifts received from non relatives in
specified circumstances :
Gifts received from non relatives are generally
taxable. However, there are certain exceptions under which gifts received from
non relatives are also not taxable.
Gifts received on the occasion of marriage of an
individual even from non relatives are not an income.
Further following receipts without consideration
are also not income :
i. under a Will or by way of inheritance;
ii. in contemplation of death of payer;
iii. from local authority as defined in
Explanation to section 10(20);
iv. educational or medical institution or fund
etc. referred to u/s. 10(23C);
v. trust or institution registered u/s. 12AA.
Gift in contemplation of death
:
A gift is said to be made in contemplation of
death when the donor is ill and he expects to die shortly out of such illness
and delivers to another possession of the movable property to be kept by another
person as gift in case a donor dies of that illness. A gift in contemplation of
death can be made of any movable property which the donor could dispose off
under a Will. It is possible for the donor to resume such a gift before he dies.
Further in a case where donor recovers from the illness during which he made the
gift then such a gift will not take effect. Further if the donor survives the
person to whom such gift was made then also such gift does not take place.
If such property instead of being given away in
contemplation of death is made subject matter of the Will then the bequest under
a Will would require executor’s assent to perfect the title of the legatee and
will be subject to probate, when applicable. Gifts in contemplation of death
can be made only of a movable property.
Sum or property received by HUF from members not taxable
As Provided in Finance Bill
2012.
Under the existing provisions of clause (vii) of
sub-section (2) of section 56 any sum or property received by an individual or
HUF for inadequate consideration or without consideration is deemed as income
and is taxed under the head “Income from other sources”. However, in the case
of an individual, receipts from relatives are excluded from the purview of this
section and are therefore treated as not taxable. The definition of relative as
given in this sub-clause is only in relation to an individual and not in
relation to a HUF.
It is therefore proposed to amend the provisions
of section 56 so as to provide that any sum or property received without
consideration or inadequate consideration by an HUF from its members would also
be excluded from taxation.
This amendment will take effect
retrospectively from the 1st day of October, 2009.
Share premium in excess of the fair market value to be treated as income
Section 56(2) provides for the specific category
of incomes that shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Income from
other sources”.
It is proposed to insert a new clause in section
56(2). The new clause will apply where a company, not being a company in which
the public are substantially interested, receives, in any previous year, from
any person being a resident, any consideration for issue of shares. In such a
case if the consideration received for issue of shares exceeds the face value of
such shares, the aggregate consideration received for such shares as exceeds the
fair market value of the shares shall be chargeable to income- tax under the
head “Income from other sources. However, this provision shall not apply where
the consideration for issue of shares is received by a venture capital
undertaking from a venture capital company or a venture capital fund.
Further, it is also proposed to provide the
company an opportunity to substantiate its claim regarding the fair market
value. Accordingly, it is proposed that the fair market value of the shares
shall be the higher of the value—
(i) as may be determined in accordance with the
method as may be prescribed; or
(ii) as may be substantiated by the company to
the satisfaction of the Assessing Officer, based on the value of its assets,
including intangible assets, being goodwill, know-how, patents, copyrights,
trademarks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of
similar nature.
This amendment will take effect from 1st
April, 2013 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year
2013-14 and subsequent assessment years.
CA. TARUN GHIAghiatarun@rediffmail.com
(The Article was Originally written by CA Tarun Ghia in which we added few more Paras to update it with amendments made in Finance Bill 2012)
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