After computing and aggregating incomes under various heads, if there is a loss under a head, it can be adjusted against income from other heads in accordance with following provisions:
If in any year the taxpayer has incurred loss from any source under a particular head of income, then he is allowed to adjust such loss against income from any other source falling under the same head. The process of adjustment of loss from a source under a particular head of income against income from other source under the same head of income is called intra-head adjustment, e.g. Adjustment of loss from business A against profit from business B.
If in any year, the taxpayer has incurred loss under one head of income and is having income under other head of income, then he can adjust the loss from one head against income from other head. For example, loss under the head of house property can be adjusted against salary income.
If loss under the head "Income from house property" cannot be fully adjusted in the year in which such loss is incurred, then unadjusted loss can be carried forward to next year.
In the subsequent years(s) such loss can be adjusted only against income chargeable to tax under the head "Income from house property".
Such loss can be carried forward for eight years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred.
Loss under the head "Income from house property" can be carried forward even if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is not furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1).
If loss under the head "Capital gains" incurred during a year cannot be adjusted in the same year, then unadjusted capital loss can be carried forward to next year.
In the subsequent year(s), such loss can be adjusted only against income chargeable to tax under the head "Capital gains", however, long-term capital loss can be adjusted only against long-term capital gains. Short-term capital loss can be adjusted against long-term capital gains as well as short-term capital gains.
Such loss can be carried forward for eight years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred.
Such loss can be can carried forward only if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1).
Loss incurred in the activity of owning and maintaining race horses shall be set off only against income, if any, from such activity in that year and the balance if any shall be carried forward to four subsequent years and set off against income, if any, from the same activity.
If loss of any business/profession (other than speculative business) cannot be fully adjusted in the year in which it is incurred, then the unadjusted loss can be carried forward for making adjustment in the next year. In the subsequent year(s) such loss can be adjusted only against income charged to tax under the head "Profits and gains of business or profession"
Loss under the head "Profits and gains of business or profession" can be carried forward only if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1).
Such loss can be carried forward for eight years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred.
Above provisions are not applicable in case of unabsorbed depreciation.
Loss from business specified under section 35AD cannot be set off against any other income except income from specified business (section 35AD is applicable in respect of certain specified businesses like setting up a cold chain facility, setting up and operating warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce, developing and building a housing projects, etc.). Such loss can be carried forward for adjustment against income from specified business for any number of years.
Loss from business specified under section 35AD can be carried forward only if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return as prescribed under section 139(1).
Loss from the business of owning and maintaining race horses cannot be set off against any income other than income from the business of owning and maintaining race horses.
Such loss can be carried forward only for a period of 4 years.
If loss of any speculative business cannot be fully adjusted in the year in which it is incurred, then the unadjusted loss can be carried forward for making adjustment in the next year. In the subsequent year(s) such loss can be adjusted only against income from speculative business (may be same or any other speculative business).
Loss from speculative business can be carried forward only if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1).
Such loss can be carried forward for four years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred.
Above provisions are not applicable in case of unabsorbed depreciation of speculative business.
Depreciation is first deducted from the income chargeable to tax under the head "Profits and gains of business or profession". If such depreciation could not be fully adjusted against such income chargeable to tax in that previous year, the unabsorbed portion shall be added to the amount of depreciation for the following year and shall be deemed to be the part of depreciation for that year(similar treatment would be given to other allowances as mentioned above). However, in the case of set off, following order of priority is to be followed:
In certain cases of reconstitution of the business like amalgamation, demerger, conversion of proprietary firm into company or conversion of partnership firm into company, etc., the reconstituted entity is entitled to carry forward the unadjusted loss of predecessor entity (provided that conditions specified in this regard are satisfied).
Section 78 contains provisions relating to carry forward and set off of loss in case of change in constitution of a partnership firm due to death or retirement of a partner (i.e. when a partner goes out of firm by retirement or death). In such a case, the share of loss attributable to the outgoing partner cannot be carried forward by the firm.
Restriction of section 78 is applicable only in case of loss and is not applicable in case of adjustment of unabsorbed depreciation, unabsorbed capital expenditure on scientific research or family planning expenditure.
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