Frequently Asked Questions

A. A person who is earning commission or brokerage may not be able to adopt section 44AD. Hence, insurance agents and real estate brokers are ineligible for section 44AD.

A. Section 44AD gives relief to SMB taxpayers doing business in any category except the following businesses:

  • A transport or Goods vehicle business operator who plies, leases, or hires goods carriages as stipulated in section 44AE.
  • Any agency owner
  • A person who is earning commission or brokerage (e.g., real estate agents)
  • Any business with a total turnover or gross receipts exceeding two crore rupees.
Special provision: If the cash received during the FY does not exceed 5% of the total turnover or gross receipts, the limit for total turnover or gross receipts is increased to Rs. 3,00,00,000 instead of Rs. 2,00,00,000. Payment received through a cheque or a demand draft that is not account payee shall be considered a cash receipt for this purpose.

A. ITR-3 is recommended, as even a modest amount constitutes business (trading) income. It is important to review your AIS thoroughly. If this income is reported there, it is likely that the system will identify it. Income tax compliance focuses on intent. By engaging in intra-day trading, you are considered to have generated business income, which is why filing ITR-3 is expected. The quantum of business income is not relevant for this requirement.

A. This is a common query among professionals. The recommended ITR form is ITR4, which accommodates reporting both salaried income (from Company A) and freelance consulting income (from Company B).

A. Yes, if it is from one self occupied, or let out property, and you do not have more than one property.

A. Yes. LTCG under Section 112A up to ₹1.25 lakh can be reported in ITR 1.

A. No. If your total income exceeds ₹50 lakh, you cannot use ITR‑1 or even ITR‑4. You must use ITR‑2 or ITR‑3, depending on whether you have business income.

A. No. If you are a director in a company, you cannot use ITR‑1 or even ITR‑4. You must use ITR‑2 or ITR‑3, depending on whether you have business income.

A. It is taxed under Income from House Property after allowing:

  • Standard deduction of 30%
  • Municipal taxes actually paid
  • Interest on housing loan (if applicable)
Include this amount along with your salary, if applicable, as well as any other sources of income. We invite you to use our complimentary house rent income calculator. Access the tool here.

A. No. Both ITR1 and ITR4 allow only one house property. Please use ITR 2 or ITR 3 depending on whether you have business income.

A. No. Please use ITR 2 or ITR 3 depending on whether you have business income.

A. The following documents are required when submitting a tax return that includes rent income and/or House Rent Allowance (HRA).

  • Rent agreement
  • Rent receipts
  • Bank statements
  • Municipal tax receipts
  • TDS certificates (Form 16A)

A. If you fail to pay 90% of your total tax liability as advance tax.

A. Simple interest at 1% per month or part of a month.

A. On assessed tax minus advance tax paid. For tax computation, TDS is treated as an advance tax. Kindly ensure that TDS is deducted from the assessed tax prior to determining interest under section 234B.

A. Sure. Assume a total TDS of ₹10,000 is deducted from your income (salary or otherwise), and the overall tax payable on this income amounts to ₹20,000. You make a payment of ₹20,000 as advance tax (self-assessment tax) on July 31, 2025, for Assessment Year 2025-26 (Financial Year 2024-25). Since advance tax was deferred and not paid in full by the end of the financial year (on or before March 31, 2025), provisions of section 234B are applicable. The calculation is as follows:

  • Net tax liability (including cess and excluding any rebate): ₹20,800
  • Shortfall in advance tax: ₹20,800 (net tax) minus ₹10,000 (TDS) = ₹10,800
  • Interest at 1% per month for four months, from April 1, 2025, to July 31, 2025: ₹10,800 × (1/100) × 4 = ₹432
Therefore, interest under section 234B is ₹432. It should be noted that the applicability of section 234B does not depend on whether presumptive taxation is opted for. Section 234B will apply if the tax liability exceeds ₹10,000 and advance tax is not paid by the prescribed due date. We invite you to use our complimentary interest calculator for sections 234B and 234C on assessed tax. Access the tool here.

A. If you delay instalments of advance tax.

A. For example, in relation to FY 2025-26, adherence to the following dates is required to prevent interest charges on the assessed tax (i.e., net tax after deducting TDS). The net tax amount accounts for cess and reflects any applicable rebates.

  • 15 June 2025: 15%
  • 15 September 2025: 45%
  • 15 December 2025: 75%
  • 15 March 2026: 100%

A.

  • Interest under section 234C for default in payment of advance tax instalments is levied at the rate of 1% per full month or a partial month. This interest is calculated as simple interest. Accordingly, the taxpayer is required to pay simple interest at 1% per month or part of a month for any shortfall of individual advance tax instalments.
  • Interest under section 234C is imposed for a duration of three months when there is a shortfall in the payment of the first, second, or third installment, and for one month in cases of a shortfall in the payment of the final installment.

A. A presumptive taxpayer may fulfil their advance tax liability by making payment in full during the final installment on 15 March. This approach considerably reduces the interest applicable under section 234C, as missing the 15 March installment results in only a 1% interest levied on the outstanding tax liability.

A. Presumptive Taxation Scheme is a simplified scheme where income is declared at a fixed percentage of turnover, without maintaining detailed books.

A. Individuals engaged in certain businesses or professional activities are eligible to participate in the presumptive taxation scheme.

  • 44AD: Businesses with turnover up to ₹2 crore
  • 44ADA: Professionals with receipts up to ₹75 lakh
  • 44AE: Transporters owning up to 10 goods vehicles

A.

  • 44AD: 6% (digital receipts) or 8% (cash receipts) of turnover
  • 44ADA: 50% of gross receipts
  • 44AE: Transporters owning up to 10 goods vehicles

A. No. Unless you declare income lower than the presumptive rates as mentioned above in an answer to another question, you are permitted to carry on your business without the need to maintain books.

A. Sure. Let's assume the FY to be 2024-25. Arvind owns an engineering consultancy firm. His total tax liability for the year amounts to Rs. 54,000. He has made the following advance tax payments:

  • Rs. 9,500 on 15th June 2024
  • Rs. 12,500 on 15th September 2024
  • Rs. 13,500 on 15th December 2024
  • Rs. 18,500 on 15th March 2025
Arvind has not opted for the presumptive taxation scheme under section 44ADA. Let us determine whether Arvind is required to pay interest under section 234C, and if so, how much. Every individual whose estimated tax liability for the financial year exceeds Rs. 10,000 must pay advance tax. Any tax paid up to 31st March is considered as advance tax. Based on these dates, Arvind’s advance tax liability at each instalment is calculated as follows:
  • First Instalment (15th June): At least 15% of the total tax payable should be paid by this date. 15% of Rs. 54,000 is Rs. 8,100. Arvind paid Rs. 9,500 on 15th June, which exceeds the required amount. Therefore, there is no shortfall in the first instalment.
  • Second Instalment (15th September): At least 45% of the total tax payable should be paid by this date. 45% of Rs. 54,000 is Rs. 24,300. By 15th September, Arvind has paid a total of Rs. 22,000 (Rs. 9,500 + Rs. 12,500). There is a short payment of Rs. 2,300 (Rs. 24,300 – Rs. 22,000). However, as Arvind has paid a minimum of 36% of the advance tax by 15th September (36% of Rs. 54,000 is Rs. 19,440; he has paid Rs. 22,000), no interest under section 234C will apply for the deferment of the second instalment.
  • Third Instalment (15th December): At least 75% of the total tax payable should be paid by this date. 75% of Rs. 54,000 is Rs. 40,500. By 15th December, he has paid Rs. 35,500 in total (Rs. 9,500 + Rs. 12,500 + Rs. 13,500). This results in a short payment of Rs. 5,000 (Rs. 40,500 – Rs. 35,500). Thus, Arvind will be liable to pay interest under section 234C for this shortfall.
  • Final Instalment (15th March): By this date, 100% of the tax payable should be settled. Arvind has paid the full tax liability of Rs. 54,000 by 15th March (Rs. 9,500 + Rs. 12,500 + Rs. 13,500 + Rs. 18,500), so there is no shortfall in the final instalment.
The only shortfall occurs in the third instalment, amounting to Rs. 5,000. Interest under section 234C is charged at 1% per month or part thereof on the short-paid amount for three months. Hence, the interest payable is Rs. 150 (Rs. 5,000 × 1% × 3 months). In summary, Arvind is liable to pay interest of Rs. 150 under section 234C due to the shortfall in the third instalment of advance tax. We invite you to use our complimentary interest calculator for sections 234B and 234C on assessed tax. Access the tool here.