Interest unpaid on unsecured loan

[satbir singhwahi]

Partnership firm has presently unsecured loan from friends taken prior to 01.04.2004. But no interest has been provided on these loans for the financial year 2006-07.A.O. wants to tax these outstanding loans.Is he right?

[DEV KUMAR KOTHARI]

No AO is not right, loans were taken before 01.04.2004 and not during the year 2006-07. The loans have not been waived, they continue to be liability. Interest may not be provided for several reasons, that does not mean that liability has ceased to exist. Even in case loan is waived by creditros, it will be on capital account and not revenue.On this issue, however, there are different opinions of courts but majority is thatit will not be income.

[Mukesh Kumar]

The action of AO is not appearing to be correct. If any addition or deduction is to be made he can do so only for the assessment year in which transaction occurred. He can not make adjustments for unsecured loans taken from friends as per his whims and wish.

AI Summary

Assessing Officer's Attempt to Tax Old Unsecured Loans Disputed; Loans Not Waived, Not Income A partnership firm had unsecured loans from friends taken before April 1, 2004, with no interest provided for the financial year 2006-07. The Assessing Officer (AO) sought to tax these outstanding loans. Respondents in the forum disagreed with the AO's approach, arguing that the loans remain a liability and have not been waived. They emphasized that adjustments should only be made for the assessment year when the transaction occurred, and the majority court opinion suggests such loans do not constitute income.