The Income Tax Act has laid down provisions for set off and carry forward of losses. Set off of loss means adjusting the loss against the taxable income. The taxpayer can carry forward the remaining loss to future years to set off against future incomes. The Income Tax Act prescribes rules to set off and carry forward of losses under each head of income. Further, if the taxpayer has not filed the ITR on the Income Tax Website within the due date as per Sec 139(1), he/she cannot carry forward losses to future years. However, the taxpayer can carry forward the loss under the head Income from House Property to future years even if he/she files the ITR after the due date.
Set Off Losses
Intra-Head Set Off of Loss
Intra-Head set off is the adjustment of loss from an income source against the profit from another income source under the same head. For example, set off of loss from self-occupied property against profit from another rented house property is an intra-head set-off.
Inter-Head Set Off of Loss
Inter-Head set off is the adjustment of loss under an income head against the profit under another income head. For example, set off of loss from self-occupied house property against income from salary. Before making the inter-head set-off, the taxpayer has to first make the intra-head set-off.
Restrictions for making Adjustment of Loss (Set Off) in Current Financial Year
- Business (PGBP) Loss
- You can set off Non-Speculative Business Loss against any income except salary income.
- However, you cannot set off Speculative Business Loss against any income other than Speculative Business Profit.
- Loss under Capital Gains
- You cannot set off loss under the head “Capital Gains” against income under other heads of income.
- You cannot set off LTCL i.e. long-term capital loss against any income other than LTCG i.e. long-term capital gain.
- Further, you cannot set off STCL i.e. short-term capital loss against any income other than STCG i.e. short-term capital gain, and LTCG i.e. long-term capital gain.
- House Property Loss
- You can set off loss under the head ‘House Property’ against any income. There is no restriction to set off house property loss.
- From AY 2018-19, you can set off loss under the head ‘house property’ against any other income head to the extent of Rs. 2,00,000 only for any assessment year. However, you can carry forward unabsorbed loss for set-off in subsequent years as per provisions of Section 71B.
- Loss from trading in Cryptocurrency and other Virtual Digital Assets (VDA)
- You cannot set off loss from the transfer of cryptocurrency, NFT or VDA against any other income.
- Further, you cannot set off loss under any other head of income against profit on transfer of cryptocurrency, NFT or VDA.
- Horse-Race Loss
- You cannot set off loss from the business of owning and maintaining race horses against any income other than income from the business of owning and maintaining race horses.
- Specified Business Loss
- You cannot set off loss from business specified under section 35AD against any other income except for income from specified business. Section 35AD is applicable for specified businesses like cold chain facility, warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce, developing and building housing projects, etc.
- You cannot set off loss against income from winnings from lotteries, crossword puzzles, horse race, card games, and games having gambling or betting.
Example for Set Off Loss
Non-Speculative Business Loss: INR 5,00,000
Speculative Business Income: INR 1,00,000
House Property Income: INR 2,50,000
Solution
Taxpayer can set off Non-Speculative Business Loss in the following order:
- Speculative Business Income (Intra-head set off) – INR 1,00,000
- House Property Income (Inter-head set off) – INR 2,50,000
- Carry Forward Loss to future years – INR 1,50,000 (5,00,000 – 1,00,000 – 2,50,000)
Carry Forward of Loss
Loss remaining after set off is the loss that taxpayer can carry forward to future years to set off against future incomes. For example, loss from self-occupied house property remaining after intra-head and inter-head set off, the taxpayer can carry forward for 8 years and adjust against future income from house property.
It is important that the taxpayer files the Original ITR within the due date as per Section 139(1) to carry forward the loss to future years. However, it is possible to carry forward loss under the head House Property to future years even if the taxpayer files a Belated ITR under Section 139(4). Below is the table with rules for carry forward and set off of losses against future incomes.
Example for Carry Forward of Loss
- FY 2020-21 (AY 2021-22)
Non-Speculative Business Loss: INR 5,00,000
Speculative Business Income: INR 1,00,000
House Property Income: INR 2,50,000 - FY 2021-22 (AY 2022-23)
Speculative Business Income: INR 30,000
Non-Speculative Business Income: INR 1,40,000
Solution
- FY 2020-21 (AY 2021-22)
The taxpayer can set off Non-Speculative Business Loss in the following order:- Speculative Business Income (Intra-head set off) – INR 1,00,000
- House Property Income (Inter-head set off) – INR 2,50,000
- Carry Forward Loss to future years – INR 1,50,000 (5,00,000-1,00,000-2,50,000)
- FY 2021-22 (AY 2022-23)
The taxpayer can set off Non-Speculative Business Loss in the following order:- Carry Forward Loss – INR 1,50,000
- Non-Speculative Business Income – INR 1,40,000
- Speculative Business Income – INR 10,000
Carry Forward and Set Off of Non-Speculative Business Loss
The taxpayer can carry forward Non-Speculative Business Loss that remains after set off for 8 assessment years. The taxpayer can only carry forward loss if they have filed ITR before the due date u/s 139(1). In the coming financial years, the taxpayer can set off the brought forward Non-Speculative Loss against profits from both non-speculative and speculative business. Further, the taxpayer can set off a specified business loss under Section 35AD against profits from specified business under Section 35AD only.
The taxpayer can carry forward Speculative Business Loss that remains after set off for 4 assessment years. The taxpayer can only carry forward their loss if they have filed their income tax return before the due date of filing the ITR u/s 139(1). In the coming financial years, the taxpayer can set off the brought forward Speculative Business Loss against profits from speculative business only.
The taxpayer can carry forward loss from the business of owning and maintaining racehorses for 4 assessment years. In the coming years, the taxpayer cannot set off such loss against any income other than income from the business of owning and maintaining race horses.
Carry Forward and Set Off of House Property Loss
The taxpayer can carry forward and set off losses from House Property for 8 assessment years. The taxpayer can carry forward their loss even if they have filed ITR after the due date of u/s 139(1). In the coming financial years, the taxpayer can set off the brought forward House Property Loss against income from House Property.
Carry Forward and Set Off of Capital Loss
The taxpayer can carry forward loss under the head ‘Capital Gains’ that remains after set off for 8 assessment years. The taxpayer can only carry forward their loss if they have filed ITR before the due date of u/s 139(1). In the coming financial years, the taxpayer can set off the brought forward STCL (Short Term Capital Loss) against both STCG (Short Term Capital Gain) and LTCG (Long Term Capital Gains). Further, the taxpayer can set off the brought forward LTCL against LTCG only.
Carry Forward and Set Off of Crypto Loss
Budget 2022 brought changes to the tax on cryptocurrency, NFT, and other virtual digital assets (VDA). As per the budget provisions, here is the treatment of loss on the sale of cryptocurrency, NFT, and other VDA.
The taxpayer cannot set off the loss from the transfer of one VDA against profit from the transfer of another VDA or any other income. Further, the taxpayer cannot carry forward such loss to future years. If there is a loss under any other head of income, the taxpayer cannot set it off against profit on the transfer of VDA.
Treatment of Loss as per New Tax Regime
With the introduction of Section 115BAC in Budget 2020, there were few changes in the treatment of losses as follows:
- House Property Loss
As per the new income tax regime, the taxpayer can set off only current year loss from house property against income from house property and not against any other Income. Moreover, the taxpayer cannot carry forward house property loss to future years if he/she opts for the new tax regime. - Set Off Business/Profession Loss
In the case of a business income, an individual/ HUF cannot set off the brought forward business loss or unabsorbed depreciation. Further, they cannot carry forward these B&P losses and unabsorbed depreciation if they relate to deductions/exemptions withdrawn under clause (i) of sub-section (2) of section 115BAC.
In simple terms, you can carry forward short-term & long-term capital losses, derivatives trading losses in the new tax regime. Since, only the losses relating to deductions & exemptions withdrawn under Section 115BAC(2)(i) cannot be set off or carried forward, for eg: House property losses, additional depreciation, etc.
The image below gives a clear understanding of the treatment of losses in the new and old tax regime.
FAQs
Loss from equity intraday trading is a speculative business loss. Speculative loss can be set off against Speculative Profits only. Thus, it cannot be adjusted against F&O trading income. However, you can carry forward the loss for 4 years and adjust it against speculative profits in future.
Loss from F&O trading is a non-speculative business loss. Non-Speculative Loss can be set off against any income except Salary Income in the current year. Thus, you can adjust non-speculative loss against interest income (2 lacs) but not salary income. However, you can carry forward the remaining loss (8 lacs) for 8 years and adjust it against business & profession income (speculative and non-speculative) in future.
You cannot carry forward loss to future years if the income tax return for the year in which loss is incurred is not filed within the due date as per Sec 139(1). However, if you have incurred loss under head house property, you can carry forward the loss even if the return is filed after the due date.
Hi @raj_gupta,
When filing your ITR, the losses are first set off against the respective heads and are then carried forward.
Since F&O trading is treated as non-speculative business income for Income Tax purposes:
Like always, Quicko has special discounts for Zerodha Traders.
For details regarding ITR filing, you can drop your contact number here.
Hi @ADITYA_VASISTHA
Intraday fno is classified under Non Speculative Business Income. So profits from the same can be adjusted against Losses from House Property Income or Losses from Other sources Income.
Hope this helps!
Hi @ADITYA_VASISTHA
There is no other way to adjust the profits then.
Since it is Non speculative business income, you can claim all eligible expense incurred for the business.
Hi,
I apologize if my question seems repeated.I did go through other queries and still couldn’t figure it out by myself.I hope you don’t mind and help me figure this out.
In the initial years of my trading, I incurred losses in F&O trading.
I’ve declared that in my ITR and filed it b4 due date.
Since the losses, I gave up F&O trading and now I am purely concentrating on holding shares for at the least 1 year before selling it off.
Now I was wondering if the gains from my shares (LTCG) can offset the the F&O losses of my initial years,partly or completely, over the coming years,as I plan to carry forward the F&O losses until it is 0 or the max no of years have passed…(8 years,i think so).
My doubt arose because at one place I saw that F&O losses can be set-off against any income other than salary and in another place, that they can be set-off against F&O gains or equity intraday gains only.
I would be grateful if you could point me in the right direction.
Thank you for your time.
Hey @Aby_Math, F&O trading is classified as non-speculative business income from the income tax perspective.
You can set off non-speculative business income against any income except salary for the current year i.e. for that financial year.
You can only set of bought forward non-speculative business loss against future speculative or non-speculative business incomes. Therefore, you cannot set off F&O loss against your capital gains
Hi @pradeepsalian,
Since F&O trading is treated as non-speculative business income you are required to file ITR 3.
You can carry forward the non-speculative business loss to 8 years, there is no limit on the amount of loss you can carry forward.
No, all of them are not treated as STCG, here is how they are classified:
The rules to set off the loss against current year losses & for bought forward losses are a bit different.
For instance, you can set off F&O losses (non-speculative business loss) against any income except salary. However, you can only set off the bought forward F&O loss against business income.
This article might be helpful to help you understand it better:
Hey @Jack_R, you can find the details of setting off your losses in detail from this article:
I made a short term loss on equity shares, how do I carry it forward - so I can set it off against future gains ?
Hey Krutarth,
In respect of any capital loss incurred by you, you have to show the same in your return of income to carry forward. Note that loss can be carried forward only when return has been filed on or before the due date.
The remaining balance of the loss can be carried forwarded to the next 8 financial years.
Why my Speculative loss set off with Other Source income? It shows on Quicko platform when I was preparing my ITR 3 in Review section. MY salary income Nil, Speculetive activity losses 20000 apx and saving ac, fd ac intreses are 5000 apx, in review section shown setoff 5000 and CFL is 15000.