Trade Advances cannot be treated as ‘Deemed Dividend’

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that trade advances would not attract the provisions of “deemed dividend” under the provisions of Section 2(22)(e) of the Income Tax Act. As per section 2(22) clause (e) of the Income Tax Act, “dividend” includes any payment by a company, not being a company in which the public are substantially interested, of any sum by way of advance or loan to a shareholder, being a person who is the beneficial owner of shares (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a right to participate in profits holding not less than ten per cent of the voting power, or to any concern in which such shareholder is a member or a partner and in which he has a substantial interest (hereafter in this clause referred to as the said concern) or any payment by any such company on behalf, or for the individual benefit, of any such shareholder, to the extent to which the company in either case possesses accumulated profits. The Board’s decision is based on the decisions of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana and Allahabad High Courts in various cases. The circular stated that “In view of the above it is, a settled position that trade advances, which are in the nature of commercial transactions would not fall within the ambit of the word ‘advance’ in section 2(22)( e) of the Act. Accordingly, henceforth, appeals may not be filed on this ground by Officers of the Department and those already filed, in Courts tribunals may be withdrawn/not pressed upon.”

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