Capital Gain

Tax queries 713 views 7 replies

There is a plot of land of which 40% is occupied by family A with a Bungalow on it where Mr and Mrs. A are residing. The other 60% is a vacant land occupied by family B.  There is a proposal to demolish existing bungalow and construct a multistoried building with residential flats on the said plot of land using FSI of the entire plot of land. It is not possible for Family A and family B to do separate constructions on their respective plots. The residential flats (constructed area) would be distributed amongst the family of A and B in the ratio 40% and 60%   It is advised by the Tax Consultant that the very fact that Mr. & Mrs.A are demolishing the existing structure (bungalow) and are constructing new building jointly with Mr. and Mrs. B in which both the families  will have flats would result in their being treated as a AOP. Since Mr. & Mrs. A are joining with Mr. & Mrs.B, the risk on above being treated as an adventure in nature of trade increases. The Tax Consultant has pointed out the risks of the provisions of section 2(31) and section 45(3) of the Income Tax Act. Mr. & Mrs. A are confused and seek advise as to how best to structure the deal so as to minimize the tax implication?

Replies (7)

Hi mohd,.., ur querries are high graded yaar..... i think u should post them at EXPERTS section

Dear Mhammed,

Either Family B can sell their Plot to Family A, then the arising Capital gains, if Long Term be made exempt u/s 54F by investing in the house constructed by Family A,

Now in this case Family A has to pay STCG on Flat B

                 or

Same way, Family A can sell their House to Family B & claim Sec 54

In this option Family B has to pay STCG on sale of Flat to Family A

 

PLS IGNORE POINTS 1 to 4

Dear Mohammed, I don’t think that an AOP needs to be constituted in your case

 

1. ‘Association of persons’ means an association in which two or more persons join in a common purpose or common action, and as the words occur in a section, which imposes a tax on income, the association must be one, the object of which is to produce income, profits or gains. Liability to tax depends upon the earning of profits by a unit and not upon the ultimate division of profits - N.V. Shanmugham & Co. v. CIT [1971] 81 ITR 310 (SC).

 

There is the need of a meeting of minds and common will and intention to join in an activity to produce some gain, profit or income to constitute an AOP or BOI..

 

3. To constitute an association of individuals two or more individuals should have joined in the promotion of a joint enterprise with the object of producing income, profits or gains. Thus, an element of joint venture for profit is necessary to constitute an AOP -CAIT v. Raja Ratan Gopal [1966] 59 ITR 728 (SC).

 

4. CIT V/s. A. P. Parukutty Mooppilamma, [38 CTR 354, 18 TAXMAN 275]

 

“….the words, body of individuals occurring in the definition section should be understood in the context and collection of the words and not in isolation. In construing the words body of individuals occurring in section 2(31) of the I.T. Act, 1961, alongside the words association of persons, the aforesaid well-settled principle of interpretation laid down by courts should be borne in mind. It is now well-settled by decisions of the Supreme Court that in order to constitute an association of persons, persons must join in a common purpose or action and the object of the association must be to produce income. It is not enough that the persons receive the income jointly. The word body of individuals occurring in section 2(31) of the Act alongside association of persons should be understood in the said background and context.”

 

5. See the definition of business

2(13) “business” includes any trade, commerce or manufacture or any adventure or concern in the nature of trade, commerce or manufacture.

 

In this case u have mentioned, there is no intention to carry on commercial activities, so the question of business does not arise….. 45(3) Applies where capital contribution to a business is made by contributing an asset to the business. This contribution is for becoming a member of AOP or firm. In such a case, the value taken as gross consideration wil be the value entered in books crediting capital…. Here there is no business at all…. You are also not a business man or professional from whom AO can demand books.

 

6. Section 26

“Where property consisting of buildings or buildings and lands appurtenant thereto is owned by two or more persons and their respective shares are definite and ascertainable, such persons shall not in respect of such property be assessed as an association of persons, but the share of each such person in the income from the property as computed in accordance with sections 22 to 25 shall be included in his total income.”

 

You can make the shares of each person definite and ascertainable for the new building, and in such a case, you cannot be treated as an AOP.

You can tell a lawyer to draft the agreement properly to just change the shares for some suitable consideration (Black or white, its your callJ) and build a new house on the plot with proper definite and ascertainable shares

 

Would welcome suggestions and other views to the situation.

 

Sources for this post

 

https://law.incometaxindia.gov.in/DitTaxmann/IncomeTaxActs/2008ITAct/casesec2(31).htm

 

/forum/files/38_legal_glossary.pdf

Dear G.K.

I think u missed out on the explanation of  Sec 2(31) added by Finance Act 2002 thereby overruling the above judjements -

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, an association of persons or a body of individuals or a local authority or an artificial juridical person shall be deemed to be a person, whether or not such person or body or authority or juridical person was formed or established or incorporated with the object of deriving income, profits or gains;

hmm... thanks amir for that.........

 

but then it can't affect section 26 can it?

Dear G.K.,

I also gave a thought about Sec 26, It's language is quite tricky, but then due to reference of Sec 22 to Sec 25 in that section, I think it's applicability has to be restricted to House Property only...

Wot's say??

Dear G.K.,

Go through this link -

https://www.icai.org/resource_file/10647may05p1508-16.pdf

Crux -  In case of sale of Jointly owned properties there r conflicting judjements to treat as AOP or not.

Further SC has said that an asssociation will be termed as AOP or not will depend upon facts of each case, that means the above question was rite that there are chances of assessment being done in the capacity of AOP.

 


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