Airbnb Guest House Income - Eligibility for Presumptive Taxation under Section 44AD

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1 Points Joined April 2025

I run a small guest house in Goa that is listed on Airbnb for short-term rentals (average stay is 3–5 nights). I actively manage bookings, cleaning, guest check-ins, etc.

I also have a Goa Tourism registration certificate, which officially recognizes the property as a commercial unit (hotel/guest house) used for tourism/hospitality purposes.

Given this setup:

  1. Can I declare this income under the "Income from Business & Profession" head?

  2. Am I eligible to use Section 44AD (Presumptive Taxation) to declare 6% of gross receipts as profit, since all payments are received digitally via Airbnb?

  3. I file as an individual, and my gross receipts from Airbnb are below ₹20L annually.

Would appreciate clarity, especially since the income is more "active" (like a service business) rather than passive rental.

Thanks in advance!

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On 23 April 2025 at 22:22 Report
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Master in Accounts & high court Advocate
9447 Points Joined December 2011

Income Tax Classification Given your active involvement in managing the guest house, including bookings, cleaning, and guest check-ins, your income can be classified under "Income from Business or Profession" rather than "Income from House Property."

This classification is suitable for your business model, which involves providing services beyond mere renting of property.

 Eligibility for Section 44AD - *Section 44AD Applicability*: Section 44AD of the Income Tax Act allows eligible businesses to declare a deemed profit of 6% of gross receipts, provided certain conditions are met.

 However, this section is specifically applicable to businesses engaged in the transportation of goods or passengers using goods carriages or certain other specified businesses. -

 *Eligibility for Guest House Business*: Given that your business involves providing accommodation and related services, it may not fall under the purview of Section 44AD, which is more suited for businesses like transportation or retail. -

*Alternative Options*: You may need to maintain books of accounts and compute your income based on actual profits, considering all allowable expenses related to your guest house business. Recommendations -

 *Maintain Proper Records*: Ensure you keep detailed records of all income and expenses related to your guest house business to support your tax filings.

 Conclusion While your income can be classified under "Income from Business or Profession," the applicability of Section 44AD may be limited.

It's essential to explore alternative tax computation methods that best suit your business needs.

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On 24 April 2025 at 13:20
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Master in Accounts & high court Advocate
9447 Points Joined December 2011

Income Tax Classification Given your active involvement in managing the guest house, including bookings, cleaning, and guest check-ins, your income can be classified under "Income from Business or Profession" rather than "Income from House Property."

This classification is suitable for your business model, which involves providing services beyond mere renting of property.

 Eligibility for Section 44AD - *Section 44AD Applicability*: Section 44AD of the Income Tax Act allows eligible businesses to declare a deemed profit of 6% of gross receipts, provided certain conditions are met.

 However, this section is specifically applicable to businesses engaged in the transportation of goods or passengers using goods carriages or certain other specified businesses. -

 *Eligibility for Guest House Business*: Given that your business involves providing accommodation and related services, it may not fall under the purview of Section 44AD, which is more suited for businesses like transportation or retail. -

*Alternative Options*: You may need to maintain books of accounts and compute your income based on actual profits, considering all allowable expenses related to your guest house business. Recommendations -

 *Maintain Proper Records*: Ensure you keep detailed records of all income and expenses related to your guest house business to support your tax filings.

 Conclusion While your income can be classified under "Income from Business or Profession," the applicability of Section 44AD may be limited.

It's essential to explore alternative tax computation methods that best suit your business needs.

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On 24 April 2025 at 13:46


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