Set Off and Carry Forward of Losses
Set Off and Carry Forward of Losses
Set Off and Carry Forward of Losses
Set off of losses refers to adjustment of current year losses against current year
incomes.
Loss from one source of income can be adjusted against income from some other
source of income under the same head.
Ø For example :Loss from HP1 can be adjusted against income from HP2
1. Loss from speculation business cannot be set of against profit from an non
speculation business
(Interpretation: Loss from non speculative business can be set-off against
speculation income)
2. LTCL can only be set off against LTCG and cannot be set off against STCG
(Interpretation: STCL can be set off against LTCG)
5. Loss from the activity of owning and maintaining race horses cannot be set off
against other incomes
Loss from one head of income (HP) can be adjusted against income from some
other head of income.(Salary Income): It is subject to the following exceptions
Ø For example: Loss from HP can be adjusted against Salary Income or Business
Income
(Interpretation: Loss from other heads can be set-off against business income)
Ø For Example: HP loss can be set-off against Speculative Incomes but speculation
loss cannot be set off against HP
2. Business loss cannot be set-off against salary income. (It can be set-off against
other incomes)
3. Loss under the head Capital Gains (LTCL or STCL) cannot be set-off against any
other head.
(Interpretation: Loss from other heads can be set-off against Capital Gains)
Ø For Example: HP loss can be set-off against CG but LTCL or STCL cannot be set off
against HP
6. Loss from the activity of owning and maintaining race horses cannot be set off
Unadjusted losses of past years can be carry forward and set-off against current
year income subject to certain restrictions;
1. Past year losses can be set-off against income from that respective head of
income (Inter head adjustment is not possible)
(e. g. Unadjusted loss of HP for the year 2004-05 c/f Rs. 20,000. This loss can be
set-off only against HP income of the year 2007-08 and not under any other head)
2. The above rule (1) is not applicable to unabsorbed depreciation, which can be
set-off against any other head
3. All losses (Except loss due to owning and maintaining of race horses) can be
carried forward and set-off for 8 subsequent financial years following the
Previous Year in which such loss arose.
4. Unadjusted loss due to owning and maintaining of race horses can be carried
forward and set-off for 4 subsequent financial years following the Previous
Year in which such loss arose.
Order of Set-off
In case where profits are insufficient to absorb brought forward losses, current depreciation
and current business losses, the same should be deducted in the following order