Ans- Section 17 of the Income-tax Act defines the term ‘salary’. However, not going into the technical definition, generally whatever is received by an employee from an employer in cash, kind or as a facility [perquisite] is considered as salary.

Ans- Allowances are fixed periodic amounts, apart from salary, which are paid by an employer for the purpose of meeting some particular requirements of the employee. E.g., Tiffin allowance, transport allowance, uniform allowance, etc. There are generally three types of allowances for the purpose of Income-tax Act – taxable allowances, fully exempted allowances and partially exempted allowances. Perquisites are benefits received by a person as a result of his/her official position and are over and above the salary or wages. These perquisites can be taxable or non-taxable depending upon their nature. . Uniform allowance is exempt to the extent of expenditure incurred for official purposes u/s 10(14).

Ans- Yes but only to the extent of Rs. 2 lakh, however, losses other than losses under the head ‘Income from house property’ cannot be set-off while determining the TDS from salary.

Ans-The presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD can be adopted by following persons : 1) Resident Individual 2) Resident Hindu Undivided Family 3) Resident Partnership Firm (not Limited Liability Partnership Firm) In other words, the scheme cannot be adopted by a non-resident and by any person other than an individual, a HUF or a partnership firm (not Limited Liability Partnership Firm). Further, this Scheme cannot be adopted by a person who has made any claim towards deductions under section 10A/10AA/10B/10BA or under sections 80HH to80RRB in the relevant year

Ans- As per section 44AB, following persons are compulsorily required to get their accounts audited : • A person carrying on business, if his total sales, turnover or gross receipts (as the case may be) in business for the year exceed or exceeds Rs. 1 crore. This provision is not applicable to the person, who opts for presumptive taxation scheme under section 44AD and his total sales or turnover doesn’t exceeds Rs. 2 crores. Note: The threshold limit, for a person carrying on business, is increased from Rs. 1 Crore to Rs. 10 crore in case when cash receipt and payment made during the year does not exceed 5% of total receipt or payment, as the case may be. In other words, more than 95% of the business transactions should be done through banking channels. • A person carrying on profession, if his gross receipts in profession for the year exceed Rs. 50 lakhs. • An assessee who declare profit for any previous year in accordance with section 44AD and he decreases profit for any of one 5 assessment year relevant to the previous year succeeding such previous year lower than the profit computed as per section 44AD and his income exceeds the amount which is not chargeable to tax. • If an eligible assessee opts out of the presumptive taxation scheme, within the aforesaid period, he cannot choose to revert back to the presumptive taxation scheme for a period of five assessment years thereafter. • A person who is eligible to opt for the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44ADA (*) but he claims the profits or gains for such profession to be lower than the profit and gains computed as per the presumptive taxation scheme and his income exceeds the amount which is not chargeable to tax. • This provision is not applicable to the person, who opts for presumptive taxation scheme under section 44AD and his total sales or turnover doesnot excceeds Rs. 2 crores. • A person who is eligible to opt for the presumptive taxation scheme of sections 44AE (*) but he claims the profits or gains for such business to be lower than the profits and gains computed as per the presumptive taxation scheme of sections 44AE. • A person who is eligible to opt for the taxation scheme prescribed under section 44BB (*) or section 44BBB (*) but he claims the profits or gains for such business to be lower than the profits and gains computed as per the taxation scheme of these sections. (*) section 44BB is applicable to non-resident taxpayers engaged in the business of providing services or facilities in connection with, or supplying plant and machinery on hire basis to be used in exploration of mineral oils. section 44BBB is applicable to foreign companies engaged in the business of civil construction or erection of plant or machinery or testing or commissioning thereof, in connection with a turnkey power project.

Ans- A person covered by section 44AB should get his accounts audited and should obtain the audit report on or before 30th September of the relevant assessment year, e.g., Tax audit report for the financial year 2021-22 corresponding to the assessment year 2022-23 should be obtained on or before 30th September, 2022. The tax audit report is to be electronically filed by the chartered accountant to the Income-tax Department. After filing of report by the chartered accountant, the taxpayer has to approve the report from his e-fling account with Income-tax Department.