The Finance Bill, 2025, proposes several key changes in the Income Tax Act, 1961, to continue reforms in the direct tax system through tax reliefs, removing difficulties faced by taxpayers, and rationalizing1 various provisions. Here are some of the key changes:
Rationalisation of provisions related to carry forward of losses in case of amalgamation
Carry forward of losses: Sections 72A and 72AA of the Income Tax Act deal with the carry forward and set-off of losses in cases of amalgamation or business reorganization.
Current provisions: Currently, accumulated losses of the predecessor entity can be carried forward and set off against the income of the successor entity. However, losses (except speculation losses) can only be carried forward for a maximum of 8 assessment years.
Amendment: The Bill proposes to amend Sections 72A and 72AA to clarify that the 8-year limit also applies to losses carried forward from a predecessor entity in an amalgamation.
Preventing evergreening: This amendment aims to prevent the “evergreening” of losses through successive amalgamations.
Effective date: This amendment will apply to amalgamations or business reorganizations effected on or after April 1, 2025.
XIX. Rationalisation of provisions related to carry forward of losses in case of amalgamation
Section 72A and 72AA of the Act provide provisions relating to carry forward and set-off of accumulated loss and unabsorbed depreciation allowance in cases of amalgamation or business reorganisation as specified therein.
2. Section 72A and 72AA provide that the accumulated loss of the amalgamating entity or predecessor entity shall be deemed to be the loss of the amalgamated entity or the successor entity for the previous year in which amalgamation or business reorganisation has been effected or brought into force. Further, section 72 of the Act provides that no loss (other than loss from speculation business) under the head “Profits and gains from business or profession” shall be carried forward for more than 8 assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment years for which the loss was first computed.
3. In order to bring clarity and parity with the provisions of section 72 of the Act, it is proposed to amend section 72A and section 72AA of the Act to provide that any loss forming part of the accumulated loss of the predecessor entity, which is deemed to be the loss of the successor entity, shall be eligible to be carried forward for not more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which such loss was first computed for the original predecessor entity. The proposed amendment is aimed to prevent evergreening of the losses of the predecessor entity resulting from successive amalgamations and also to ensure that no carry forward and set off of accumulated loss is allowed after eight assessment years from the immediately succeeding the assessment year for which such loss was first computed for the original predecessor entity.
3. The aforesaid amendments shall apply to any amalgamation or business re-organisation which is effected on or after 01.04.2025.
4. These amendments will take effect from the 1st day of April, 2026.
[Clauses 14 & 15]