Hello Sir, I'm a retired person, 66 years old. Before retirement, I had invested Rs.93.5 lakhs in a commercial real estate in Navi Mumbi in Feb.2017 and registered the property jointly with my wife on 50/50 basis. The value of the property as determined by stamp duty registrar at that time was Rs.73.41 lakhs. The expenses on stamp duty, registration and brokerage was Rs.7.53 lakhs and improvement expenditure was Rs.4 lakhs. So total cost of purchase worked out to Rs.1.09 crores.
I sold this property in Feb.2024, exactly after 7 years, for Rs.1.1 crore. Market value (for stamp duty purpose) on the date of sale was Rs.89.89 lakhs.
While filing my ITR2 in AY 2024-25, I had split all the above values by 2 and 50% was shown in my ITR2 and the remaining 50% was shown in my wife's ITR2 under CG for showing the capital gain. The incometax system has calculated and shown the capital gain as minus Rs.31.24 lakh, i.e. Rs.-15.62 lakh in each of our ITR2. The system has also automatically set-off my LTCG arising out of other share transactions during the FY against this loss. The system allows the remaining loss to be carried forward to next year under CFL.
My questions are:
(1) Can we both go ahead and finalise & submit the ITR2 as shown above?
(2) Can we use the losses carried forward during the next AY to set off our incomes arising out of share market transactions?
Thank you so much in advance for your valuable time and advice.
Ans: Understanding Your Capital Gains Scenario
You invested Rs. 93.5 lakhs in a commercial property in 2017. This property was jointly owned with your wife. The total cost, including expenses, was Rs. 1.09 crores. You sold the property in 2024 for Rs. 1.1 crore. This transaction resulted in a loss of Rs. 31.24 lakh, split equally between you and your wife.
Filing ITR2 with Capital Losses
The income tax system calculated a capital loss of Rs. 15.62 lakh for each of you. This loss has been set off against your long-term capital gains from other share transactions. The remaining loss can be carried forward.
Submit ITR2: Yes, you can finalize and submit ITR2 as shown. The system's calculation is correct.
Carry Forward and Set-Off of Capital Losses
The Income Tax Act allows you to carry forward capital losses for eight years. These losses can be set off against future capital gains.
Using Carried Forward Losses: Yes, you can use the carried forward losses to set off against future capital gains from share market transactions. This helps in reducing your taxable income in future years.
Analytical Insights
Loss Set-Off: By setting off the loss against your other gains, you reduce your tax liability for the current year. This is a strategic move.
Carry Forward Benefit: Carrying forward losses provides a cushion for future gains. It helps in managing tax liabilities efficiently.
Key Considerations
Record Keeping: Ensure you maintain all documents related to the sale and purchase of the property. This includes agreements, receipts, and tax filings. These documents are crucial for future reference and any tax scrutiny.
Tax Planning: Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner for comprehensive tax planning. They can help optimize your investments and tax liabilities.
Future Investment Strategy
Diversification: Diversify your investments to balance risk and return. Consider mutual funds, bonds, and fixed deposits.
Risk Management: Assess the risk of each investment. Balance high-risk investments with safer options to protect your capital.
Final Insights
Managing capital gains and losses is crucial for effective tax planning. You have used the tax provisions wisely by setting off the losses against other gains. Carrying forward the remaining losses will help reduce your future tax liabilities.
By diversifying your investments and consulting with a Certified Financial Planner, you can optimize your financial portfolio for better returns and risk management.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in