Trading in stocks or F&O, can be broadly classified into (a) Speculative business transaction and (b) Non Speculative transaction.

Speculative Transaction:

As per Section 43(5) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, any transactions relating to purchase and sale of commodity, shares and scripts settled without taking delivery (this means the purchase or sale won’t enter Demat account) will be treated as “Speculative transaction”. Thus, intra-day trading in stocks is a speculative transaction.

Non Speculative Transaction: Future and Options (F&O) Transaction

However, trading in derivatives and F&O transaction including commodity derivatives on a recognised stock exchange will not be considered as a speculative transaction (even though the delivery is not taken) and thus, F&O transaction is a Normal business transaction / Non-speculative transaction.

Applicability of audit in case of F&O transaction

Since income from F&O business or derivative trading is considered as normal business income, tax audit under section 44AB is applicable like in any other business transactions.

So, the right classification of  Normal profit / speculative profit/loss is important for arriving correct tax liability as well as for carrying forward of losses to be setoff in future.  (Note: Speculative loss can be set off only against speculative profits)

When is Tax Audit required for F&O transaction?

• Tax audit is not mandatory in case F&O trading turnover* does not exceed Rs. 1 Crore.
• If turnover exceeds Rs. 1 crore, Tax audit u/s 44AB will be applicable, if the net profit from such transactions is less than 6% of the turnover.
• If turnover exceeds Rs. 2 Crore, Tax Audit u/s 44AB is mandatory irrespective of profit or loss declared

Turnover would be the total of favourable and unfavourable of each squared transaction in a year and premium received on sale of option would only be added to turnover. For example, profit of Rs.6000 and Loss of Rs.4000, together (means Rs.10000) to be considered as the volume of turnover.

Tax benefits on losses in F&O transactions

The loss incurred for F&O transactions can be adjusted against rental or interest income and any unadjusted loss can be carried forward up to 8 years which can be set off against future business profit from any business including profit from F&O transactions.

Why one should compulsorily declare F&O loss in the income tax return

Taxpayers especially those who are salaried but trade in F&O, make the mistake of not reporting these in their tax return.  While this may happen due to sheer ignorance; reporting all sources of income is mandatory. Your broker mandatorily reports all security transaction details to income tax department through filing return of Statement of Financial transactions (SFT) every year.

Non-declaration will attract notice from income tax department for non-compliance and liable to be penalised for non-maintenance of books of account and not getting and filing tax audit report along with income tax return.

If you have F&O transactions or Loss from F&O business, we Elangovan and Associates LLP, audit firm in Bangalore help you in the following,

• Arriving correct F&O turnover and profit or loss from F&O and derivative business
• Reporting of F&O transactions and filing of Income-tax return
• Preparing Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss account for all business transactions for the purpose of income tax filing.
• Getting your books of account audited and filing of Tax audit report along with income tax return