Income Tax Act, 2025  ·  Chapter IV — Computation of Total Income  ·  Section 31

Section 31
Deduction for bad debt and provision for bad and

IT Act 2025 Chapter IV Effective 1 April 2026 Old: 63 36
New Provision
Section 31, IT Act 2025
Replaces (IT Act 1961)
63 36
Chapter
Chapter IV — Computation of Total Income
Effective From
1 April 2026
Statutory Text — Section 31

(1) The amount mentioned in column C of the Table below, in respect of any provision for bad and doubtful debts made by the assessee specified in column B thereof, shall be allowed as a deduction in computation of income chargeable under section 26.

Table Sl. Specified assessee Amount of deduction No. A B C 1. (a) A scheduled bank, other than a bank (a) not more than incorporated by or under the laws of a 8.5% of the total income country outside India; or of the tax year computed before making any (b) a non-scheduled bank; or deduction under this (c) a co-operative bank, other than— clause and Chapter VIII, (i) a primary agricultural credit and an additional amount society; or up to 10% of the (ii) a primary co-operative aggregate average agricultural and rural development bank. advances made by rural branches computed in the manner as may be prescribed; (b) for an assessee mentioned in clauses (a) and (b) of column B, at its option, an additional amount in excess of clause (a) of this column but not more than the income from redemption of securities as per a scheme framed by the Central Government, when such income has been disclosed in the return of income under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”. 2. (a) A bank incorporated by or under the Not more than 5% of laws of a country outside India; or the total income of a tax (b) a public financial institution or a year computed before State Financial Corporation or a State making any deduction Industrial Investment Corporation; or under this clause and Chapter VIII. (c) a non-banking financial company. (2) Any amount of bad debt, or part of it, in the tax year in which such amount is written off as irrecoverable in the accounts of the assessee, shall be allowed as deduction in computation of income chargeable under section 26,

CH. IV D.- PROFITS AND GAINS OF BUSINESS OR PROFESSION [Sec 26-66] subject to the following conditions:–– (a) it has been taken into account in computing the income of the assessee of the tax year in which it is written off, or any earlier tax year, or represents the money lent in the ordinary course of the business of banking or money lending which is carried on by the assessee; (b) if the amount ultimately recovered on any such debt or part of debt is less than the difference between the debt or part and the amount so deducted, the deficiency shall be deductible in the tax year in which the ultimate recovery is made; and (c) where it relates to an assessee to which sub-section (1) applies,–– (i) only that amount which exceeds the credit balance in the provision for bad and doubtful debts account made under that sub- section shall be allowed as deduction; (ii) such amount shall be allowed only when the assessee has debited any amount of bad debt or part thereof in that tax year to the provision for bad and doubtful debts account made under that sub- section; and (iii) the aforesaid account shall be only one such account under sub-section (1) and such account shall be related to all types of advances, including advances made by rural branches. (3) For the purposes of sub-section (2),–– (a) any bad debt or part of it written off as irrecoverable shall not include any provision for bad and doubtful debt; (b) any amount of bad debt or part of it, which has been taken into account in computing the income of the assessee of the tax year in which the amount of bad debt or part of it becomes irrecoverable or of an earlier tax year as per income computation and disclosure standards notified under section 276(2) without recording it in the accounts, shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the assessee of the tax year in which it becomes irrecoverable and such bad debt or part of it shall be deemed to be written off as irrecoverable in the accounts for the purposes of sub-section (2).

Shahi & Co. — Our Understanding
This section falls under Chapter IV which governs the computation of total income under all five heads: Salaries, House Property, Business & Profession, Capital Gains, and Other Sources.
Practical Note: All income earned by a taxpayer in a tax year must be computed under one of these heads. Proper classification determines the applicable deductions, set-off rules, and tax rates.
Shahi & Co., Chartered Accountants
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Disclaimer: This is a reproduction of Section 31 of the Income Tax Act, 2025 (No. 30 of 2025) as published in the Official Gazette of India (CG-DL-E-22082025-265620) for informational and reference purposes only. Shahi & Co., Chartered Accountants makes no warranty as to completeness or accuracy. For the official authenticated text refer to egazette.gov.in or incometaxindia.gov.in. This does not constitute legal or tax advice.