CBDT enlarges section 37 to exclude expenses to settle proceedings under four laws

CBDT enlarges the scope of section 37, to exclude expenditure incurred to settle proceedings under four laws out of business expenditure

CBDT has issued notification enlarging the scope of section 37, to exclude from the definition of business expenditure, any expenditure incurred to settle proceedings under four laws

Section 37 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is a residuary provision providing that any expenditure laid out or expended wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the business or profession shall be allowed as business expenditure.

Explanation -1 makes an exception to the above by providing that any expenditure incurred by an assessee for any purpose which is an offence or which is prohibited by law shall not be deemed to have been incurred for the purpose of business or profession and no deduction or allowance shall be made in respect of such expenditure.

Explanation 3 was inserted in section 37 by the Finance Act 2022 w.e.f. 01.04.2022 further clarified that the expression “expenditure incurred by an assessee for any purpose which is an offence or which is prohibited by law” under Explanation 1, shall include and shall be deemed to have always included the expenditure incurred by an assessee,—

(i) for any purpose which is an offence under, or which is prohibited by, any law for the time being in force, in India or outside India; or

(ii) to provide any benefit or perquisite, in whatever form, to a person, whether or not carrying on a business or exercising a profession, and acceptance of such benefit or perquisite by such person is in violation of any law or rule or regulation or guideline, as the case may be, for the time being in force, governing the conduct of such person; or

(iii) to compound an offence under any law for the time being in force, in India or [outside India].

CBDT has issued Notification No. 38/2025 dated 23.04.2025 to expand the scope of Explanation 3 by adding that any expenditure incurred to settle proceedings initiated in relation to  contravention or defaults under the following specific laws shall not be deemed to have been incurred for the purpose of business or profession and no deduction or allowance shall be made in respect of such expenditure, namely:–

(a) the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992

(b) the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956

(c) the Depositories Act, 1996

(d) the Competition Act, 2002

CBDT has also issued a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the scope of the Notification No. 38/2025 as under:

FAQs on Notification No. 38/2025

Q1. What is section 37 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’)?
Ans. Section 37 of the Act provides for allowability of expenditure laid out or expended wholly and exclusively for the purpose of business or profession.

Q2. What is Explanation 1 of sub-section (1) of section 37 of the Act and its relation with Explanation 3 thereof ?
Ans. Explanation 1 of sub-section (1) of section 37 provides that any expenditure incurred by an assessee for any purpose which is an offence or which is prohibited by law shall not be deemed to have been incurred for the purpose of business or profession and consequently, no deduction or allowance can be claimed for such expenditure. Further, Explanation 3 of section 37 clarifies the term “expenditure incurred by an assessee for any purpose which is an offence or which is prohibited by law”

Q3. What is the amendment made in Explanation 3 vide Finance (no. 2) Act, 2024?
Ans. Explanation 3 to sub-section (1) of section 37 of the Act was amended vide Finance no. 2 Act, 2024 to clarify that the term “expenditure incurred by an assessee for any purpose which is an offence or which is prohibited by law” will also  include any expenditure incurred by an assessee to settle proceedings initiated in relation to a contravention under any law for the time being in force, as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf. 

Q4. Which laws been notified under the amended Explanation 3?
Ans. Vide CBDT Notification no. 38/2025 dated 23.4.2025 it has been provided that any expenditure incurred to settle proceedings initiated in relation to contravention or defaults under the following laws shall not be deemed to have been incurred for the purpose of business or profession –

(i) the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992)

(ii) the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 [42 of 1956]

(iii) the Depositories Act, 1996 [22 of 1996]

(iv) the Competition Act, 2002 [12 of 2003].

Q5. What are the implications of this notification?
Ans. Any expenditure incurred by an assessee for settlement of proceedings initiated in relation to contravention or defaults under the abovementioned laws cannot be claimed as a deduction or allowance under the Income tax Act from AY 2025-26 onwards. 

Form no. 3CD of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 has also been amended by CBDT Notification no. 23/2025 dated 28.3.2025 to capture details pertaining to such expenses. 

Q6. From when has the amendment been made effective?
Ans. This amendment is effective from 1st day of April, 2025 and shall accordingly apply from Assessment Year 2025-26 onwards.

Download CBDT Notification No. 38/2025 and FAQs Click Here >>

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