What is Proprietorship Return Filing?

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.

Whereas the income tax rates for the registered companies are assessed on flat rates.

As the proprietorship firms are small and independent businesses owned by a single person. These unregistered businesses are one of the easiest to manage.

How to file Income tax returns for proprietorship firms?

Proprietorship tax returns are to be filed every year unless there is an exemption. As mentioned before, the proprietor and the proprietorship firms are considered as one single person. Two forms are to be filed depending on the nature of the proprietorship.

Form ITR-3

This form should be used to file Income tax if the proprietorship firm is run by a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) or by any proprietor.

Form ITR-4

The proprietorship firm uses this form for proprietorship tax filing under a presumptive tax scheme. This is done to reduce the burden of compliance of small businesses.

The business income of the person has been added to the payment of the proprietor himself. This way, the business taxes become the personal taxes of the proprietor. The proprietor is still entitled to all tax deductions offered to individuals or Hindu Undivided Family.

Is it necessary for Proprietorship Firms to File Income Tax Return?

Under the Income Tax Act, all proprietors below the age of 60 are required to file an Income tax return if the total income is more than Rs. 3 Lakhs.

In the case of proprietors over the age of 60 years are required to file income, but below 80 years, then income tax filing is mandatory if the total income exceeds Rs. Three lakhs.

Proprietors over the age of 80 years and above must file the proprietorship tax returns if the income exceeds Rs. 5 lakhs.

If the proprietor files an income tax return before the deadline, losses, if any, in the business would be allowed to be carried forward. The deduction under sections 10A, 10B, 80-IA, 80-IAB, 80-IB, and 80-IC cannot be permitted unless the proprietorship income tax return has been filed on or before the due date.

Audit of Proprietorship.

Depending upon the annual turnover of the proprietorship, an audit is necessary to be carried. Under these three conditions, an audit would be required:

If the turnover of the proprietorship firm carrying business is exceeding Rs.2 crore during the financial year.
In a professional case, an audit is required if total gross receipts are exceeding Rs—50 lakh.
If the proprietorship is under any presumptive tax scheme regardless of the annual turnover, an audit is required.

For the audit to be carried on, the rules are set out under the Income Tax Act, 1961. The audit is to be done by a certified Chartered Accountant. The CA has to ensure that all the books of accounts are correctly maintained and complied with all the compliances.