How can I carry forward loss in LT, ST, Speculative and non speculative?

  1. Long term in equity
    I understand that there is no tax for LTCG, But, how do I carry forward Long term capital loss? Can it be adjusted/offset in any other area?
  2. Short term in equity
    Is it 15% flat on STCG? Can short term capital loss be carried forward? for how many years can be carried forward? Can it be adjusted against future fiscals STCG’s alone? (or) it can be adjusted against any other area?
  3. Speculative business income
    I understand that speculative income has to be added to rest of other income and tax to be paid as per slab
    Can speculative loss be carried forward for 4 years and adjusted only against future fiscal’s speculative business income? Can it be adjusted against any other body?
  4. Non speculative business income
    I understand that non speculative income has to be added to rest of other income and tax to be paid as per slab
    Can non speculative loss be carried forward for 8 years and adjusted only against future fiscal’s non speculative business income? Can it be adjusted against any other body?
  1. (1) Where in respect of any assessment year, the net result of the computation under the head “Capital gains” is a loss to the assessee, the whole loss shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year, and—

a. in sofar as such loss relates to a short-term capital asset, it shall be set off against income, if any, under the head “Capital gains” assessable for that assessment year in respect of any other capital asset;

b. in sofar as such loss relates to a long-term capital asset, it shall be set off against income, if any, under the head “Capital gains” assessable for that assessment year in respect of any other capital asset not being a short-term capital asset;

c. if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on.

(2) No loss shall be carried forward under this section for more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.

Concise Explanation: You can carry forward your LT capital loss and ST capital loss for a period of 8 years. LT capital loss can only be set-off against LT capital gain. ST capital loss can be set-off against both LT capital gain and ST capital gain. ST capital gains can also be set-off against Non-speculative Business income (Refer sec 71).

Losses in speculation business.

  1. (1) Any loss, computed in respect of a speculation business carried on by the assessee, shall not be set off except against profits and gains, if any, of another speculation business.

(2) Where for any assessment year any loss computed in respect of a speculation business has not been wholly set off under sub-section (1), so much of the loss as is not so set off or the whole loss where the assessee had no income from any other speculation business, shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year, and—

(i) it shall be set off against the profits and gains, if any, of any speculation business carried on by him assessable for that assessment year; and

(ii) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on.

(3) In respect of allowance on account of depreciation or capital expenditure on scientific research, the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 72 shall apply in relation to speculation business as they apply in relation to any other business.

(4) No loss shall be carried forward under this section for more than four assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.

Explanation.—Where any part of the business of a company (other than a company whose gross total income
consists mainly of income which is chargeable under the heads “Interest on securities”, “Income from house property”, “Capital gains” and “Income from other sources”, or a company the principal business of which is the business of trading in shares or banking or the granting of loans and advances) consists in the purchase and sale of shares of other companies, such company shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be carrying on a speculation business to the extent to which the business consists of the purchase and sale of such shares.

Carry forward and set off of business losses.

  1. (1) Where for any assessment year, the net result of the computation under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” is a loss to the assessee, not being a loss sustained in a speculation business, and such loss cannot be or is not wholly set off against income under any head of income in accordance with the provisions of section 71, so much of the loss as has not been so set off or, where he has no income under any other head, the whole loss shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year, and—

(i) it shall be set off against the profits and gains, if any, of any business or profession carried on by him and assessable for that assessment year ;

(ii) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on :

Provided that where the whole or any part of such loss is sustained in any such business as is referred to in section 33B which is discontinued in the circumstances specified in that section, and, thereafter, at any time before the expiry of the period of three years referred to in that section, such business is re-established, reconstructed or revived by the assessee, so much of the loss as is attributable to such business shall be carried forward to the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the business is so re-established, reconstructed or revived, and—

(a) it shall be set off against the profits and gains, if any, of that business or any other business carried on by him and assessable for that assessment year; and

(b) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall, in case the business so re-established, reconstructed or revived continues to be carried on by the assessee, be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on for seven assessment years immediately succeeding.

(2) Where any allowance or part thereof is, under sub-section (2) of section 32 or sub-section (4) of section 35, to be carried forward, effect shall first be given to the provisions of this section.

(3) No loss (other than the loss referred to in the proviso to sub-section (1) of this section) shall be carried forward under this section for more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.

Hopefully, you don’t need further clarifications on sections 72 and 73 which will answer your queries.