Proprietorship:
Proprietorship firms file the Proprietor income tax return just like the LLPs and the Companies registered in India. In the legal sense, the proprietorship and the proprietor are considered to be one. Hence, the income tax return filing of the proprietor and the proprietorship are the same.
As a sole proprietorship is not taxed as a different legal entity, the business owners file their business taxes like their individual returns. Like any other individual taxpayer, a proprietorship firm is also entitled to a proprietorship tax deduction as per the prevailing Income tax rules and depending on the slab rates applicable to his income.
Partnership:
A partnership firm is a type of entity where more than one person is carrying out business under one entity. Partnerships firms in India are of two types – Registered partnership firms and unregistered partnership firms.
The income tax defines a Partnership firm as “Persons who have entered into a partnership with one another are called individually “partners” and collectively “a firm”, and the name under which their business is carried on is called the “firm name”. Hence, a firm that does not have a registration certificate from the registrar is an unregistered Partnership firm.
A partnership firm is required to file a partnership firm income tax return under the Income Tax Act,1961. Partnership firms are liable to pay income tax at the rate of 30% of total income. Besides, a partnership firm is liable to pay an income tax surcharge of 12% if the total income exceeds Rs.1 crores.
Additional to the income tax and surcharge a partnership firm must pay the education cess and the secondary higher education cess.
Education Cess is applicable on the amount of the income tax and the applicable surcharge at the rate of 2%. Secondary and higher education cess is applicable on the amount of the income tax and the applicable surcharge at the rate of 1%.
Alternative minimum tax
Similar to a private limited company or LLP, partnership firms are also required to pay alternate minimum tax at the rate of 18.5% of “adjusted total income”. Alternate minimum tax would be increased by the applicable surcharge, education cess, and secondary and higher education cess.
While calculating the payable income tax an individual must check the available deductible income
- Remunerations or interest paid to the partners of the firm is not under the terms of the partnership.
- Salaries, bonuses, remunerations, commissions paid to the non-working partners of the firm.
- If remuneration paid to partners is following the terms of the partnership deed but such transactions were made or were concerning anything that pre-dates the partnership deed.
Limited Liability Partnership:
LLP or the Limited Partnership is a hybrid combination of a limited and partnership company. Minimum two partners are required to incorporate an LLP there is no such upper limit.
Limited Liability Partnerships are required to file the annual returns within 60 days from the end of the close of the financial year and account statement and solvency within 30 days from the end of six months of the closure of the financial year.
The financial year for the LLPs starts from the 1st of April to the 31st of March. The annual return for the LLPs is due on May 30th while the statement of accounts and solvency is due on the 30th of October of each financial year.
Besides the MCA annual return filing, the limited liability partnerships must also mandatorily file the income tax return every year.
The income tax rate applicable for LLPs registered in India is 30% of the total income. Besides the income tax, a surcharge is levied on the income of the tax payable at the rate of 12% when the total income is exceeding Rs.1 crore.
Health and Education cess of 4% is applicable on the amount of income tax and the applicable surcharge.
Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) for LLP
Similar to income tax applicable for a company, LLP is also subject to minimum alternate tax. A minimum alternate tax of 18.5% of adjusted total income is applicable for LLP. Hence, income tax payable by LLP cannot be less than 18.5 percent (increased by income tax surcharge, education cess, and secondary and higher education cess).
LLPs Involved in International Transaction
LLPs that entered into an international transaction with associated enterprises or undertook certain Specified Domestic Transactions are required to file Form 3CEB. Form 3CEB must be certified by a Chartered Accountant. LLPs required to file Form 3CEB have 3oth November as the deadline for LLP tax filing.
Companies:
Quarterly payment of the advance tax
Filing of the Income Tax returns
Tax audit (mandatory in case the turnover or gross receipts of a business exceeds Rs. One crore in the previous year relevant to the assessment year.
Filing of the Tax Audit report.