Restrictions on deductions for related party payments require arm's length pricing and specified electronic payment modes for eligibility.
Section 36 empowers the Assessing Officer to disallow payments to specified persons that are excessive or unreasonable relative to fair market value, legitimate business needs, or benefit to the assessee; defines specified persons and a 20% substantial interest test; prohibits deductibility of aggregate cash payments in a day above prescribed thresholds unless made through specified banking/online modes (with a higher threshold for carriage services); treats subsequent cash payments as business income where deduction had been earlier allowed; and adds an exclusion for marked to market or expected losses except as expressly allowable.