ITR-4 Form (Sugam): What is ITR 4, Who Should File, Applicability and How to File For AY 2024-25
Updated: Oct 2
The ITR-4 (Sugam) form is a simplified tax return designed for small businesses and professionals under the presumptive taxation scheme, making the tax-filing process easier. It is crucial for individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and partnership firms (excluding LLPs) with income under INR 50 lakh and opting for Sections 44AD, 44ADA, and 44AE of the Income Tax Act. This article covers the details of ITR-4 for Assessment Year (AY) 2024-25, its eligibility, structure, and the process of filing.
Table of Content
What is ITR-4 (Sugam)?
ITR-4 is a simplified return form applicable for taxpayers who opt for presumptive taxation under Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE. These sections allow small businesses and professionals to calculate their taxable income based on a predetermined percentage of gross receipts or turnover. The goal of ITR-4 is to reduce the burden of maintaining detailed financial records while ensuring compliance with the Income Tax Act. It is particularly beneficial for individuals and businesses with simple financial transactions that fall within the presumptive taxation limits.
Benefits of ITR-4
Simplifies income reporting under presumptive schemes.
Eliminates the need for maintaining detailed accounts and conducting audits.
Ensures a streamlined filing process for those with straightforward financials.
Who Should File ITR-4?
The ITR-4 form is applicable for:
Individuals, HUFs, and partnership firms (except LLPs) that have opted for presumptive taxation under Sections 44AD (businesses), 44ADA (professionals), or 44AE (transporters).
Taxpayers with a total income of up to INR 50 lakh during the financial year.
Those with income from one house property.
Individuals or businesses earning income from other sources like interest, but excluding income from capital gains or foreign assets.
Agricultural income of up to INR 5,000.
The form is designed for taxpayers who want to avoid complex accounting and auditing procedures and prefer the simplicity of declaring a fixed percentage of their income under presumptive taxation.
Who Cannot File ITR-4?
You cannot file ITR-4 if:
Your total income exceeds INR 50 lakh.
You have income from capital gains or speculative business income.
You own more than one house property.
You have foreign income or hold foreign assets.
You are involved in a company or LLP.
You earn from activities or professions that do not qualify under Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE.
Taxpayers with income from complex sources such as capital gains, businesses that are not covered under presumptive taxation, or foreign income should use other forms like ITR-3 or ITR-5.
Key Changes for AY 2024-25
For the Assessment Year (AY) 2024-25, the following changes are relevant for taxpayers filing ITR-4:
Budget 2023 Adjustments: The turnover limit for businesses remains INR 2 crore, while for professionals under Section 44ADA, the limit is INR 50 lakh.
New Tax Regime Compatibility: If you opt for the new tax regime, income under Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE should be reported separately.
Agniveer Corpus Fund Contributions: New provisions have been added to account for contributions made to the Agniveer Corpus Fund by eligible taxpayers.
Structure of the ITR-4 Form
The ITR-4 form is structured to make tax filing easy and clear, covering all the essential financial details:
Part A – General Information:
Personal details: Name, PAN, address, email, phone number, etc.
Filing status: Whether the return is being filed for the current year or as a revised return.
Part B – Gross Total Income:
Income from business or profession under the presumptive taxation scheme.
Income from house property and other sources (like interest).
Part C – Tax Deductions (Chapter VI-A):
Deductions available under Sections 80C, 80D, 80G, and other parts of Chapter VI-A.
Calculating total deductions to reduce taxable income.
Tax Calculation:
Compute the tax payable based on total income.
Apply Section 87A rebate for taxpayers whose income is under INR 5 lakh.
Schedules:
Schedule BP: Income from business or profession under presumptive taxation.
Schedule TDS: Details of tax deducted at source (TDS) from income.
Verification:
Declaration by the taxpayer, confirming the accuracy of the information.
How to File ITR-4 Online
Filing ITR-4 online is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:
Login to the Income Tax e-filing portal using your PAN number and password.
Select the “File ITR” option and choose ITR-4 for AY 2024-25.
Enter personal details such as name, PAN, address, etc.
Report income details under presumptive taxation for business or profession. Include income from house property and other sources.
Claim deductions under Chapter VI-A, if opted for the old tax regime, and compute total tax payable.
Review all details and submit the return.
After submission, verify the return by generating an ITRV (Income Tax Return Verification) and submitting it within 30 days either electronically through Aadhaar OTP or physically by sending a signed ITRV to CPC Bangalore.
Verification and Submission
Once you have submitted your return, you need to verify it to complete the filing process. Verification must be completed within 30 days of filing, or else your return will be considered invalid.
You can verify your ITR using one of the following methods:
Aadhaar OTP
Net banking (through an Electronic Verification Code)
Sending a signed ITR-V form to the Income Tax Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) in Bangalore.
If not verified within 30 days, the return will be considered invalid, and you’ll need to refile.
Additional Deductions and Benefits
ITR-4 allows taxpayers to claim deductions under Chapter VI-A, including:
Section 80C: Investments in ELSS, PPF, life insurance premiums, etc.
Section 80D: Premiums paid for medical insurance.
Section 80G: Donations to charitable organizations.
For taxpayers whose income is below INR 5 lakh, a rebate under Section 87A provides relief of up to INR 12,500, reducing the tax payable to zero.
Key Points and Penalties for Late Filing
If you fail to file ITR-4 by the due date of July 31, you can still file a belated return by December 31. However, a late filing fee applies:
INR 1,000 if income is below INR 5 lakh.
INR 5,000 if income exceeds INR 5 lakh.
In addition, interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C may be charged on the outstanding tax amount.
FAQ
Q1. Can I file ITR-4 if I have income from speculative business?
No, income from speculative business cannot be declared under presumptive taxation. You would need to file ITR-3 for such income.
Q2. Is a tax audit required for businesses filing ITR-4?
No tax audit is required if you file under presumptive taxation and your turnover is within the prescribed limits. However, if you declare income lower than the presumptive rates, an audit may be necessary.
Q3. Can I claim deductions under Section 80C in ITR-4?
Yes, deductions under Chapter VI-A including 80C, 80D, and 80G are available in ITR-4, subject to income and investment eligibility.
Q4. Can I declare income from multiple businesses in ITR-4?
Yes, provided all businesses fall under the presumptive taxation scheme (Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE) and the combined turnover does not exceed INR 2 crore for businesses or INR 50 lakh for professionals.
Q5. What happens if I miss the due date for filing ITR-4?
You can file a belated return until December 31, but you’ll incur a late fee and possibly interest on unpaid taxes.
Q6. Can I revise ITR-4 after submission?
Yes, you can revise the return if you find an error or omission before the end of the assessment year or before the assessment is completed, whichever is earlier.
Q7. Can I carry forward losses under ITR-4?
No, losses cannot be carried forward under presumptive taxation. If you wish to carry forward losses, you must file ITR-3.
Q8. Is GST applicable under presumptive taxation?
Yes, if your business falls under the GST threshold, you still need to comply with GST regulations, even if you are filing ITR-4.
Q9. How do I compute income for transport businesses under Section 44AE?
Income from transport businesses is calculated as INR 7,500 per month for each goods vehicle, regardless of actual income or expenses.
Q10. Can I declare lower income under presumptive taxation?
You can declare lower income than the presumptive rate, but it would require you to maintain regular books of accounts and get a tax audit conducted.
Q11. Is ITR-4 applicable for rental income?
Yes, ITR-4 can be used if you have rental income from a single house property, provided your total income is within INR 50 lakh.
Q12. Can I claim depreciation on assets in ITR-4?
No, depreciation is not separately claimed in ITR-4 as the presumptive income is deemed to include all expenses, including depreciation.
Q13. What is the turnover limit for declaring presumptive income under Section 44AE?
There is no turnover limit under Section 44AE, but it applies only to businesses that own goods carriages.
Q14. Is agricultural income taxable under ITR-4?
Agricultural income up to INR 5,000 can be declared in ITR-4. If agricultural income exceeds INR 5,000, you will need to file another form.
Q15. Can I use ITR-4 for income from consultancy services?
Yes, professionals offering consultancy services with receipts up to INR 50 lakh can file under Section 44ADA using ITR-4.
Q16. What is presumptive taxation?
It is a scheme allowing small businesses and professionals to declare a fixed percentage of their income under Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE, simplifying tax calculations.
Q17. Can freelancers file ITR-4?
Yes, freelancers earning less than INR 50 lakh annually can file ITR-4 under Section 44ADA.
Q18. Can I claim business expenses under presumptive taxation?
No, presumptive taxation assumes expenses have already been accounted for in the fixed income percentage.
Q19. What happens if my turnover exceeds INR 2 crore?
You will need to switch to ITR-3 or ITR-5 for filing, depending on your business type.
Q20. Can I switch back to presumptive taxation if I opt-out?
No, once you opt out of presumptive taxation, you must stay out of the scheme for the next five years.
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