Residence and Scope of Total Income

Table of content

Residential Status [Section 6]
Scope of Total Income

1. RESIDENTIAL STATUS [SECTION 6]

The incidence of tax on any assessee depends upon his residential status under the Act. For all purposes of income-tax, taxpayers (individuals and HUF) are classified into three broad categories on the basis of their residential status viz.

Resident and ordinarily resident
Resident but not ordinarily resident
Non-resident

Taxpayers (other than individuals and HUF) are classified into two broad categories on the basis of their residential status viz.

Resident
Non-resident

The residential status of an assessee must be ascertained with reference to each previous year. A person who is resident and ordinarily resident in one year may become non-resident or resident but not ordinarily resident in another year or vice versa.

The provisions for determining the residential status of assessees are:

1.1 Residential Status of Individuals

1. Residential status on the basis of number of days of stay in India - Under section 6(1), an individual is said to be resident in India in any previous year, if he satisfies any one of the following conditions:

He has been in India during the previous year for a total period of 182 days or more, or
He has been in India during the 4 years immediately preceding the previous year for a total period of 365 days or more and has been in India for at least 60 days in the relevant previous year.

If the individual satisfies any one of the conditions mentioned above, he is a resident. If both the above conditions are not satisfied, the individual is a non-resident.

The term “stay in India” includes stay in the territorial waters of India (i.e. 12 nautical miles into the sea from the Indian coastline). Even the stay in a ship or boat moored in the territorial waters of India would be sufficient to make the individual resident in India.

It is not necessary that the period of stay must be continuous or active nor is it essential that the stay should be at the usual place of residence, business or employment of the individual.

For the purpose of counting the number of days stayed in India, both the date of departure as well as the date of arrival are considered to be in india.

The residence of an individual for income-tax purpose has nothing to do with citizenship, place of birth or An individual can, therefore, be resident in more countries for tax purposes than one even though he can have only one domicile.

Exceptions:

The following categories of individuals will be treated as resident in India only if the period of their stay during the relevant previous year amounts to 182 days or more. In other words, even if such persons were in India for 60 days or more (but less than 182 days) in the relevant previous year, they will not be treated as resident due to the reason that their stay in India was for 365 days or more during the 4 immediately preceding years.

Indian citizen, who leaves India during the relevant previous year as a member of the crew of an Indian ship or for purposes of employment outside India, or
Indian citizen or person of Indian origin who, being outside India comes on a visit to India during the relevant previous year.

However, such person having total income, other than the income from foreign sources [i.e., income which accrues or arises outside India (except income from a business controlled in or profession set up in India) and which is not deemed to accrue or arise in India], exceeding ₹ 15 lakhs during the previous year will be treated as resident in India if -

- the period of his stay during the relevant previous year amounts to 182 days or more, or
- he has been in India during the 4 years immediately preceding the previous year for a total period of 365 days or more and has been in India for at least 120 days in the previous year.

Stay in India for 120 days in the relevant P.Y. is not a standalone condition. This condition requires stay in India for 120 days in the relevant P.Y. + 365 days in the 4 years immediately preceding the P.Y.

How to determine period of stay in India for an Indian citizen, being a crew member?

In case of foreign bound ships where the destination of the voyage is outside India, there is uncertainty regarding the manner and the basis of determining the period of stay in India for an Indian citizen, being a crew member.

To remove this uncertainty, Explanation 2 to section 6(1) provides that in the case of an individual, being a citizen of India and a member of the crew of a foreign bound ship leaving India, the period or periods of stay in India shall, in respect of such voyage, be determined in the prescribed manner and subject to the prescribed conditions.

Accordingly, the CBDT has, vide Notification No.70/2015 dated 17.8.2015, inserted Rule 126 in the Income-tax Rules, 1962 to compute the period of stay in such cases.

According to Rule 126, for the purposes of section 6(1), in case of an individual, being a citizen of India and a member of the crew of a ship, the period or periods of stay in India shall, in respect of an eligible voyage, not include the following period:

Period to be excluded

Period commencing from		Period ending on
the date entered into the Continuous Discharge Certificate in respect of joining the ship by the said individual for the eligible voyage	and	the date entered into the Continuous Discharge Certificate in respect of signing off by that individual from the ship in respect of such voyage.

Meaning of certain term

Term

Meaning

Eligible voyage

A voyage undertaken by a ship engaged in the carriage of passengers or freight in international traffic where –

(i) for the voyage having originated from any port in India, has as its destination any port outside India; and

(ii) for the voyage having originated from any port outside India, has as its destination any port in India.

2. Deemed resident [Section 6(1A)] – An individual, being an Indian citizen, having total income, other than the income from foreign sources [i.e., income which accrues or arises outside India (except income from a business controlled in or profession set up in India) and which is not deemed to accrue or arise in India], exceeding ₹ 15 lakhs during the previous year would be deemed to be resident in India in that previous year, if he is not liable to tax in any other country or territory by reason of his domicile or residence or any other criteria of similar nature.

However, this provision will not apply in case of an individual who is a resident of India in the previous year as per section 6(1).

Meaning of “liable to tax” – Liable to tax, in relation to a person and with reference to a country, means that there is an income-tax liability on such person under the law of that country for the time being in force. It also includes a person who has subsequently been exempted from such liability under the law of that country.

Only Indian citizen can be deemed resident. An individual who is not an Indian citizen but a person of Indian Origin cannot be deemed resident u/s 6(1A).

Stay in India is not necessary for being a deemed resident u/s 6(1A).

Resident and ordinarily resident/Resident but not ordinarily resident

Only individuals and HUF can be “resident but not ordinarily resident” in India. All other classes of assessees can be either a resident or non-resident. A not- ordinarily resident person is one who satisfies any one of the conditions specified u/s 6(6).

If such individual has been non-resident in India in any 9 out of the 10 previous years preceding the relevant previous year, or
If such individual has, during the 7 previous years preceding the relevant previous year, been in India for a period of 729 days or less, or
If such individual is an Indian citizen or person of Indian origin (who, being outside India, comes on a visit to India in any previous year) having total income, other than the income from foreign sources [i.e., income which accrues or arises outside India (other than income derived from a business controlled in or profession set up in India) and which is not deemed to accrue or arise in India], exceeding ₹ 15 lakhs during the previous year, who has been in India for 120 days or more but less than 182 days during that previous year, or
If such individual is an Indian citizen who is deemed to be resident in India under section 6(1A).

A deemed resident u/s 6(1A) is always RNOR.

1.2 Residential status of HUF

Resident: A HUF would be resident in India if the control and management of its affairs is situated wholly or partly in India.

Non-resident: If the control and management of the affairs is situated wholly outside India, it would become a non-resident.

Meaning of the term “control and management”

The expression ‘control and management’ referred to under section 6 refers to the central control and management and not to the carrying on of day- to-day business by servants, employees or agents.
Control and management means de facto control and management and not merely having the right to control or manage.
The business may be done from outside India and yet its control and management may be wholly within India. Therefore, control and management of a business is said to be situated at a place where the head and brain of the adventure is situated. Merely because the family has a house in India, where some of the members reside in the previous year, does not constitute that place as the seat of control and management of the affairs of the HUF unless important decisions concerning the affairs of the HUF are taken at that place.
The place of control may be different from the usual place of running the business and sometimes even the registered office of the assessee. This is because the control and management of a business need not necessarily be done from the place of business or from the registered office of the assessee.
But control and management do imply the functioning of the controlling and directing power at a particular place with some degree of permanence.

Resident and ordinarily resident/ Resident but not ordinarily resident

If Karta of resident HUF satisfies both the following additional conditions (as applicable in case of individual) then, resident HUF will be resident and ordinarily resident, otherwise it will be resident but not ordinarily resident.

Karta of resident HUF should be resident in at least 2 previous years out of 10 previous years immediately preceding relevant previous year.
Stay of Karta during 7 previous years immediately preceding relevant previous year should be 730 days or more.

1.3 Residential status of firms, AoPs and BoIs

Resident: A firm, AoP and BoI would be resident in India if the control and management of its affairs is situated wholly or partly in India.

Non-resident: Where the control and management of the affairs is situated wholly outside India, the firm, AoP and BoI would become a non-resident.

The residential status of the partners/ members is immaterial while determining the residential status of a Firm/AOP/BOI.

1.4 Residential status of companies

A company would be resident in India in any previous year, if-

it is an Indian company; or
its place of effective management, in that year, is in India.

“Place of effective management” to mean a place where key management and commercial decisions that are necessary for the conduct of the business of an entity as a whole are, in substance made [Explanation to section 6(3)].

Determination of residential status of a company

Note – The guidelines issued by CBDT for determination of POEM of a foreign company and transition mechanism for a company which is incorporated outside India, which has not been assessed to tax in India earlier and has become resident in India for the first time due to application of POEM, has been provided in Chapter XII-BC. The same will be dealt with at the Final level.

1.5 Residential status of local authorities and artificial juridical persons

Resident: Local authorities and artificial juridical persons would be resident in India if the control and management of its affairs is situated wholly or partly in India.

Non-resident: Where the control and management of the affairs is situated wholly outside India, they would become non-residents.

2. SCOPE OF TOTAL INCOME

Section 5 provides the scope of total income in terms of the residential status of the assessee because the incidence of tax on any person depends upon his residential status in India. The scope of total income of an assessee depends upon the following three important considerations:

the residential status of the assessee;
the place of accrual or receipt of income, whether actual or deemed; and
the point of time at which the income had accrued to or was received by or on behalf of the assessee.

The ambit of total income of the three classes of assessees would be as follows:

(1) Resident and ordinarily resident (ROR)

The total income of an ROR would, under section 5(1), consist of:

income received or deemed to be received in India during the previous year;
income which accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise in India during the previous year; and
income which accrues or arises outside India even if it is not received or brought into India during the previous year.

In simpler terms, an ROR has to pay tax on the total income accrued or deemed to accrue, received or deemed to be received in or outside India during the relevant previous year.

(2) Resident but not ordinarily resident (RNOR)

Under section 5(1), the total income of an RNOR would consist of –

income received or deemed to be received in India during the previous year;
income which accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise in India during the previous year; and
income derived from a business controlled in or profession set up in India, even though it accrues or arises outside India.

Note – All other income accruing or arising outside India which is not received or deemed to be received or deemed to accrue or arise in India would not be included in his total income.

(3) Non-resident

A non-resident’s total income under section 5(2) includes:

income received or deemed to be received in India in the previous year; and
income which accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise in India during the previous year.

Note: All assessees, whether resident or not, are chargeable to tax in respect of their income accrued, arisen, received or deemed to accrue, arise or to be received in India whereas a resident alone (resident and ordinarily resident in the case of individuals and HUF) is chargeable to tax in respect of income which accrues or arises outside India.

Clarification regarding liability to income-tax in India of a non-resident seafarer receiving remuneration in NRE (Non-Resident External) account maintained with an Indian Bank [Circular No.13/2017, dated 11.04.2017 and Circular No.17/2017, dated 26.04.2017]

Income by way of salary, received by non-resident seafarers, for services rendered outside India on a foreign going ship (with Indian flag or foreign flag) and received into the NRE bank account maintained with an Indian bank shall not be included in the total income.

Residential Status and Scope of Total Income: Whether the following incomes are to be included in Total Income?

Scope of total Income	Resident and Ordinarily Resident (ROR)	Resident but not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR)	Non-Resident
Income received or deemed to be received in India during the previous year	Yes	Yes	Yes
Income accruing or arising or deeming to accrue or arise in India during the previous year	Yes	Yes	Yes
Income accruing or arising outside India during the previous year	Yes, even if such income is not received or brought into India during the previous year	Yes, but only if such income is derived from a business controlled in or profession set up in India; Otherwise, No.	No

2.1 Meaning of “Income received or deemed to be received”

All assessees are liable to tax in respect of the income received or deemed to be received by them in India during the previous year irrespective of -

their residential status, and
the place of its accrual.

Income is to be included in the total income of the assessee immediately on its actual or deemed receipt. The receipt of income refers to only the first occasion when the recipient gets the money under his control. Therefore, when once an amount is received as income, remittance or transmission of that amount from one place or person to another does not constitute receipt of income in the hands of the subsequent recipient or at the place of subsequent receipt.

2.2 Meaning of Income ‘accruing’ and ‘arising’

Accrue refers to the right to receive income, whereas due refers to the right to enforce payment of the same. In other words, when the right to receive income becomes vested in the assessee, it is said to accrue or arise. For e.g. salary for work done in December will accrue throughout the month, day to day, but will become due on the salary bill being passed on 31^st December or 1^st January.

Similarly, on Government securities, interest payable on specified dates arise during the period of holding, day to day, but will become due for payment on the specified dates.

Example : Interest on Government securities is usually payable on specified dates, say on 1^st January and 1^st July. In all such cases, the interest would be said to accrue from 1^st July to 31^st December and on 1^st January, it will fall due for payment.

It must be noted that income which has been taxed on accrual basis cannot be assessed again on receipt basis, as it will amount to double taxation.

With a view to removing difficulties and clarifying doubts in the taxation of income, Explanation 1 to section 5 specifically provides that an item of income accruing or arising outside India shall not be deemed to be received in India merely because it is taken into account in a balance sheet prepared in India.

Further, Explanation 2 to section 5 makes it clear that once an item of income is included in the assessee’s total income and subjected to tax on the ground of its accrual/deemed accrual, it cannot again be included in the person’s total income and subjected to tax either in the same or in a subsequent year on the ground of its receipt - whether actual or deemed.

2.3 Income deemed to accrue or arise in India [Section 9]

Certain types of income are deemed to accrue or arise in India even though they may actually accrue or arise outside India.

The categories of income which are deemed to accrue or arise in India are:

(1) Any income accruing or arising to an assessee in any place outside India whether directly or indirectly

through or from any business connection in India,
through or from any property in India,
through or from any asset or source of income in India or
through the transfer of a capital asset situated in India would be deemed to accrue or arise in [Section 9(1)(i)]

In the case of a non-resident, the following shall not, however, be deemed to accrue or arise in India [Explanation 1 to section 9(1)(i)]:

In the case of a business, in respect of which all the operations are not carried out in India [Explanation 1(a) to section 9(1)(i)]: In the case of a business of which all the operations are not carried out in India, the income of the business deemed to accrue or arise in India shall be only such part of income as is reasonably attributable to the operations carried out in India. Therefore, it follows that such part of income which cannot be reasonably attributed to the operations in India, is not deemed to accrue or arise in India.
Purchase of goods in India for export [Explanation 1(b) to section 9(1)(i)]: In the case of a non-resident, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to him through or from operations which are confined to the purchase of goods in India for the purpose of export.
Collection of news and views in India for transmission out of India [Explanation 1(c) to section 9(1)(i)]: In the case of a non-resident, being a person engaged in the business of running a news agency or of publishing newspapers, magazines or journals, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to him through or from activities which are confined to the collection of news and views in India for transmission out of India.
Shooting of cinematograph films in India [Explanation 1(d) to section 9(1)(i)]: In the case of a non-resident, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India through or from operations which are confined to the shooting of any cinematograph film in India, if such non-resident is :
- an individual, who is not a citizen of India or
- a firm which does not have any partner who is a citizen of India or who is resident in India; or
- a company which does not have any shareholder who is a citizen of India or who is resident in india.
Activities confined to display of rough diamonds in SNZs [Explanation 1(e) to section 9(1)(i)]: In the case of a foreign company engaged in the business of mining of diamonds, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to it through or from the activities which are confined to display of uncut and unassorted diamonds in any special zone notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf.

Income from property, asset or source of income in India

Any income which arises from any property (movable, immovable, tangible and intangible property) would be deemed to accrue or arise in India.

Examples:

Hire charges or rent paid outside India for the use of the machinery or buildings situated in India,
Deposits with an Indian company for which interest is received outside India etc.
X, resident in New York, USA, has a house property situated in India which has been given on rent by him. Rent receivable/ received by Mr. X would be taxable in India whether such rent is received by him in India or outside India as the house property is situated in India.

Income through transfer of a capital asset situated in India

Capital gains arising through the transfer of a capital asset situated in India would be deemed to accrue or arise in India in all cases irrespective of the fact whether

the capital asset is movable or immovable, tangible or intangible;
the place of registration of the document of transfer , is in India or outside; and
the place of payment of the consideration for the transfer is within India or outside.

(2) Income from salaries earned in India [Section 9(1)(ii)]

Income, which falls under the head “Salaries”, is deemed to accrue or arise in India, if it is earned in India. Salary payable for service rendered in India would be treated as earned in India.

Further, any income under the head “Salaries” payable for rest period or leave period which is preceded and succeeded by services rendered in India, and forms part of the service contract of employment, shall be regarded as income earned in India.

(3) Income from salaries payable by the Government for services rendered outside India [Section 9(1)(iii)]

Income from ‘Salaries’ which is payable by the Government to a citizen of India for services rendered outside India would be deemed to accrue or arise in India.

The following conditions have to be satisfied to treat such income as deemed to accrue or arise in India:

Income should be chargeable under the head 'Salaries’;
The payer should be Government of India;
The recipient should be an Indian citizen, whether resident or non-resident in India;
The services should be rendered outside India.

However, allowances and perquisites paid or allowed outside India by the Government to an Indian citizen for services rendered outside India is exempt, by virtue of section 10(7).

Exemption under section 10(7) would be available to an assessee irrespective of the regime under which he pays tax.

(4) Dividend paid by an Indian company outside India [Section 9(1)(iv)]

Dividends paid by an Indian company outside India is deemed to accrue or arise in India and would be taxable in the hands of shareholders.

(5) Interest [Section 9(1)(v)]

Under section 9(1)(v), an interest is deemed to accrue or arise in India if it is payable by -

the Government;
a person who is resident in India;

Exception: Where it is payable in respect of any debt incurred or money borrowed and used for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by him outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India, it will not be deemed to accrue or arise in India.

a person who is a non-resident, when it is payable in respect of any debt incurred or moneys borrowed and used for the purpose of a business or profession carried on in India by him.

Exception: Interest on moneys borrowed by the non-resident for any purpose in India other than a business or profession, will not be deemed to accrue or arise in India.

Example : If a non-resident ‘A’ borrows money from a non-resident ‘B’ and invests the same in shares of an Indian company, interest payable by ‘A’ to ‘B’ will not be deemed to accrue or arise in India.

(6) Royalty [Section 9(1)(vi)]

Royalty will be deemed to accrue or arise in India when it is payable by -

the Government;
a person who is a resident in India

Exception: where it is payable in respect for the transfer of any right or the use of any property or information used or for the utilization of services for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India; or

a person who is a non-resident, only when the royalty is payable in respect of any right, property or information used or services utilised for purposes of a business or profession carried on in India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source in India.

Important points:

Lumpsum royalty not deemed to accrue arise in India: Lumpsum royalty payments made by a resident for the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of computer software supplied by a non-resident manufacturer along with computer hardware under any scheme approved by the Government under the Policy on Computer Software Export, Software Development and Training, 1986 shall not be deemed to accrue or arise in India.
Meaning of Royalty: The term ‘royalty’ means consideration (including any lumpsum consideration but excluding any consideration which would be the income of the recipient chargeable under the head ‘Capital gains’) for:
- the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of licence) in respect of a patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property;
- the imparting of any information concerning the working of, or the use of, a patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property;
- the use of any patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property;
- the imparting of any information concerning technical, industrial, commercial or scientific knowledge, experience or skill;
- the use or right to use any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment;
- the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of licence) in respect of any copyright, literary, artistic or scientific work including films or video tapes for use in connection with television or tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting.
  Note: Consideration for sale, distribution or exhibition of cinematographic films is covered within the scope of royalty.
- the rendering of any service in connection with the activities listed above.

The definition of ‘royalty’ for this purpose is wide enough to cover both industrial royalties as well as copyright royalties. The definition specially excludes income which should be chargeable to tax under the head ‘capital gains’.

Consideration for use or right to use of computer software is royalty within the meaning of section 9(1)(vi) :The consideration for use or right to use of computer software is royalty by clarifying that, transfer of all or any rights in respect of any right, property or information includes and has always included transfer of all or any right for use or right to use a computer software (including granting of a licence) irrespective of the medium through which such right is transferred.
Consideration in respect of any right, property or information – Is it royalty? : Royalty includes and has always included consideration in respect of any right, property or information, whether or not,

- the possession or control of such right, property or information is with the payer;
- such right, property or information is used directly by the payer;
- the location of such right, property or information is in India.
Meaning of Process: The term “process” includes and shall be deemed to have always included transmission by satellite (including up-linking, amplification, conversion for downlinking of any signal), cable, optic fibre or by any other similar technology, whether or not such process is secret.

(7) Fees for technical services [Section 9(1)(vii)]

Any fees for technical services will be deemed to accrue or arise in India if they are payable by -

the Government,
a person who is resident in India

Exception: Where the fees are payable in respect of technical services utilised in a business or profession carried on by such person outside India or for the purpose of making or earning any income from any source outside India.

a person who is a non-resident, only where the fees are payable in respect of services utilised in a business or profession carried on by the non- resident in India or where such services are utilised for the purpose of making or earning any income from any source in India.

Fees for technical services means any consideration (including any lumpsum consideration) for the rendering of any managerial, technical or consultancy services (including providing the services of technical or other personnel). However, it does not include consideration for any construction, assembly, mining or like project undertaken by the recipient or consideration which would be income of the recipient chargeable under the head ‘Salaries’.

Income deemed to accrue or arise in India to a non-resident by way of interest, royalty and fees for technical services to be taxed irrespective of territorial nexus (Explanation to section 9)

Income by way of interest, royalty or fees for technical services which is deemed to accrue or arise in India by virtue of clauses (v), (vi) and (vii) of section 9(1), shall be included in the total income of the non-resident, whether or not –

the non-resident has a residence or place of business or business connection in India; or
the non-resident has rendered services in India.

In effect, the income by way of fees for technical services, interest or royalty, from services utilized in India would be deemed to accrue or arise in India in case of a non-resident and be included in his total income, whether or not such services were rendered in India.

(8) Any sum of money paid by a resident Indian to a non-corporate non- resident or foreign company or to a resident but not ordinarily resident in India [Section 9(1)(viii)]

Income arising outside India, being any sum of money paid without consideration, by an Indian resident person to a non-corporate non-resident or foreign company or to a RNOR would be deemed to accrue or arise in India if the same is chargeable to tax under section 56(2)(x) i.e., if the aggregate of such sum received by a non-corporate non-resident or foreign company or a RNOR exceeds ₹ 50,000.

You may refer to Unit 5 of Chapter 3 where chargeability of any sum of money received is discussed in detail.

This deeming provision applies to only sum of money paid outside India to a non-corporate non-resident or foreign company or to a RNOR, and not in respect of property, movable or immovable, transferred outside India without consideration or for inadequate consideration to a non-corporate non-resident or foreign company or a RNOR.