Taxing an income earned by an assessee is lucid, but the income earned by his spouse or his minor child taxed in his hand?? Does not make sense. That’s exactly what the taxman mandates by the so-called “Clubbing” provisions. In the past it has been quite a regular happening of transferring the income of a person earning higher incomes to persons who are closely related to them, in order to evade taxes. To restrict and to not encourage such practices, provisions have been incorporated in the Income-tax Act to include income arising to one person (being the legal and not the real owner of such income) in the income of another (being the real owner of such income) while computing tax liability of the latter. Transfer of income alone without transfer of the source of earning that income is a sure-fire way to attract the clubbing provisions. For instance, creation of overriding title upon another person with respect to income from a house without actual transfer of the house for adequate consideration will not relieve the owner of the house from his liability to pay tax on house property income. Transfer of asset in a loose fashion making it revocable by the transferor at any point of time would also invoke clubbing provision instantaneously. Even when the transfer is not revocable during the lifetime of the transferee, the income will be taxed in the hands of transferor as and when the power to revoke the transfer arises. Income arising to spouse would be clubbed with the income of an individual if it is earned from a concern in which the individual has substantial interest unless the spouse possesses technical or professional qualifications and the income is solely attributed to their application. Married lady’s income would be assessed in a separate income-tax file independent of her husband provided it is earned from her own sources. Her sources may be by way of gifts from anyone except her husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law. She may even take a loan from her husband and earn income by investing in house property, shares etc. The precaution required in such a case is that interest charged on the loan by the husband should be a reasonable one. Post-engagement pre-marriage period need not just be fun. It may also be a period of good planning for your future - transfer taking place before marriage to a fiancée could not be subjected to clubbing provisions. Clubbing provisions in case of non-residents is inextricably linked to the place of accrual or receipt of income. For example, income from an asset transferred by a non-resident individual to his wife is subject to clubbing provision only if the income is accrued or received in India. Another interesting point on the clubbing provision is its close ties with the point of vesting of income. While income arising to a minor child would generally get clubbed with that of the parent whose total income is greater, deferment of the benefit accumulating to a minor child beyond the period of minority i.e. till the child attains majority would give reprieve to the parent from the clutches of clubbing. It is pertinent to note here that income out of the activity involving application of minor child’s skill, talent or specialized knowledge or income accruing to a minor child suffering from any permanent physical disability would not be subjected to clubbing. Even in other cases, no clubbing would be made as long as income arising in respect of each minor child does not exceed one thousand five hundred rupees. While the Damocles’ sword of clubbing always hangs above one’s head, it may be noted that genuine gifts of money from relatives backed by sufficient evidence would not be taxed. Also, clubbing is not always bad. Tax law says ’income includes loss’. When income can be clubbed so can the losses. Thus there is a possibility that your net tax burden may decrease due to clubbing. Well, if you do dare consider transfer of loss making assets to your wife, good luck!

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