Budget 2023-24: Relief To Start-Ups In Carrying Forward And Setting Off Losses

Section 79 of the Income Tax Act restricts carrying forward and setting off of losses in cases of companies, other than the companies in which the public is substantially interested. It prohibits setting off of carried forward losses if there is change in shareholding. The carried forward loss is set off only if at least 51% shareholding (as on the last date of the previous year) remains the same with the company on the last date of the previous year to which the loss belongs.

However, some relaxation has been provided in case of an eligible start-up as referred to in section 80-IAC. The condition of continuity of at least 51% shareholding is not applicable to the eligible start-up, if all the shareholders of the company as on the last day of the year, in which the loss was incurred, continue to hold those shares on the last day of the previous year in which the loss is set off. There is an additional condition that the loss is allowed to be set off, under this relaxation, only if it has been incurred during the period of seven years beginning from the year in which such company is incorporated.

In order to align the period of seven years with the period of ten years contained in section 80-IAC(2) of the Income Tax Act, the time period for loss of eligible start-ups to be considered for relaxation was proposed to be increased from seven years to ten years from the date of incorporation.

The government proposed to amend the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 79 so that the carried forward loss of eligible start-ups shall be considered for set off under the proviso, if loss has been incurred during the period of ten years beginning from the year in which the company was incorporated.

The amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2023 and will accordingly apply to the assessment year 2023-2024 and subsequent assessment years.

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