SECTION 44AD- DRAFTING BLUNDER OR INTENTION

CA Sudhir Halakhandi (PRACTICING CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT)   (13401 Points)

13 July 2009  

 

HERE SEE SECTION 44AD(5) APPLICABLE FROM ASSESSMENT YEAR 2011-12
 
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, an eligible assessee who claims that his profits and gains from the eligible business are lower than the profits and gains specified in sub-section (1) and whose total income exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax, shall be required to keep and maintain such books of account and other documents as required under sub-section (2) of section 44AA and get them audited and furnish a report of such audit as required under section 44AB.
 
The assessee has to get the accounts audit if the following two conditions are satisfied:-
1.        his profits and gains from the eligible business are lower than the profits and gains specified in sub-section (1) and
2.       Whose total income exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax.
Here see both the conditions are simultaneous and the assessee required to get his accounts audit only if his profits from the business u/s 44AD are lower than 8% of this turnover and further his total income is more than maximum amount which is not liable to tax.
 
Though the proposed provision is applicable from assessment year 2011-12 but if for example and to understand the effect of this provision we presume the minimum amount which is not liable to tax is Rs. 1.60 Lakh and the turnover of the eligible business is Rs.38 Lakhs and the Net profit is Rs. 152000.00 which comes to only 4% hence the first condition for the compulsory audit is there but since the income is only Rs.1.52 Lakhs hence the second condition of section 44AD(5) is not complete hence the audit is not mandatory.
If whatever mentioned above is the intention of law then in most of the cases where income of the assessee is below taxable limit then there is no requirement of audit even if the rate of profit is below 8% and the income is below taxable limit due to the reason that the rate of profit on eligible business is less than 8%.