Settlement to wife and Clubbing of Income

This query is : Resolved

CA. Satish Rajan (Querist)
Follow

10 December 2009 I intend to settle a sum of money in the name of my wife as a settlement. She then proceeds to invest this. Will her investment income be clubbed in my income? As this is a settlement, I will not have any further rights on the money and therefore I feel this should not attract the clubbing provisions of the Income Tax Act.

She has no other income source.

K V Subba Rao

K V Subba Rao (Expert)
Follow

10 December 2009 If you are asking for ACADEMIC interest, clubbing provisions will not invoked, if settlement is in pursuance of divorce legally recognised

CA. Satish Rajan

CA. Satish Rajan (Querist)
Follow

10 December 2009 Thank you for your reply.

This is not in pursuance of divorce but as a security for the wife.

Aashok Kumar Sharma

Aashok Kumar Sharma (Expert)
Follow

25 July 2025 This is an interesting and important question about **settlement of money to your wife** and how the **clubbing provisions** of the Income Tax Act might apply.

---

### Basic principle of **Clubbing of Income** under Income Tax Act:

* Under **Section 64(1)(iv)** of the Income Tax Act, if a person transfers money or assets to their spouse **without adequate consideration**, the income arising from such assets is generally clubbed with the transferor’s income.
* This is to prevent tax avoidance by transferring income-producing assets to a spouse who may have a lower tax rate.

---

### Your situation:

* You intend to settle a sum of money **in the name of your wife** as a settlement, but **not pursuant to a divorce decree**.
* You say it’s as **security for the wife**, and you will have no further rights on the money.

---

### How does this affect clubbing?

1. **If it is a genuine settlement and the money is irrevocably transferred to the wife**, with no control or rights retained by you, the income from that money should normally be taxable in her hands.

2. **However, since it is not pursuant to divorce or legal separation**, the transfer may attract clubbing provisions under Section 64(1)(iv), unless it can be shown that the transfer is for adequate consideration or genuinely without control.

3. If you retain any rights or control (such as power to revoke or receive benefits), the income may still be clubbed.

4. Also, if the transfer is **in the nature of a security** rather than an outright gift or settlement, it may not qualify as a complete transfer, attracting clubbing.

---

### Case Law and Clarifications:

* Courts have generally held that genuine settlements in favor of spouses pursuant to **legal divorce or separation** are exempt from clubbing.
* Settlements or transfers not arising out of divorce or separation usually attract clubbing unless specifically exempted or supported by adequate consideration.

---

### Summary:

| Scenario | Clubbing applies? |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Settlement to wife **pursuant to legal divorce or separation** | No clubbing |
| Transfer as **security or conditional settlement**, no divorce | Clubbing likely applies |
| Outright, irrevocable gift/settlement without rights retained (not divorce) | Clubbing likely unless proven otherwise |

---

### What you can do:

* Document the transfer clearly, evidencing **no control or rights retained by you**.
* Consider if this transfer could be structured as part of divorce/separation (if applicable).
* Consult a tax expert to evaluate if it qualifies as a **bona fide gift or settlement** to avoid clubbing.
* Be prepared for the tax department to apply clubbing provisions if transfer appears as a tax avoidance method.

---

If you want, I can help draft a formal note explaining this or share some relevant case laws on the topic. Would that help?

You need to be the querist or approved CAclub expert to take part in this query .
Click here to login now