Computation of Income on Presumptive Basis

Shipping Business in the case of Non-residents [Sec. 44B]

44B covers Regular shipping business

Applicable to - All non-resident assessee
Estimated Income: Income taxable under the head “Profits & gains of business or profession”
from such business shall be estimated at 7.5% of the amount being aggregate of the following:

1. The amount paid or payable (whether in or out of India) to the assessee (or to any
person on his behalf) on account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods
shipped at any port in India; and
2. The amount received or deemed to be received in India by or on behalf of the assessee
on account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods shipped at any port
outside India.
Notes: The amount paid or payable or received or deemed to be received, as the case may be,
shall also include demurrage (fine) charges or handling charges or any other amount of similar
nature.

Special procedure for Shipping Business of Non-residents [Sec. 172] occasional shipping
business
Applicable to
The section is applicable for the purpose of the levy and recovery of tax in the case of any
ship, belonging to or chartered by a non-resident, which carries passengers, livestock, mail or
goods shipped at a port in India.

Deemed Income
Where such a ship carries passengers, livestock, mail or goods shipped at a port in India, 7 1/2%
of the amount paid or payable on account of such carriage to the owner or the charterer or to
any person on his behalf, whether that amount is paid or payable in or out of India, shall be
deemed to be income accruing in India to the owner or charterer on account of such carriage.

Computation of Tax
• Before the departure from any port in India of any such ship, the master of the ship shall
prepare and furnish to the Assessing Officer a return of the full amount paid or payable to
the owner or charterer or any person on his behalf, on account of the carriage of all
passengers, livestock, mail or goods shipped at that port since the last arrival of the ship
thereat.
• However, where the AO is satisfied that it is not possible for the master of the ship to
furnish such return before the departure of the ship from the port and provided the master
of the ship has made satisfactory arrangements for the filing of the return and payment of
the tax by any other person on his behalf, the Assessing Officer may, if the return is filed
within 30 days of the departure of the ship, deem the filing of the return by the person so
authorized by the master as sufficient compliance.
• On receipt of the return, the Assessing Officer shall assess such income and determine the
sum payable as tax thereon at the rate or rates in force applicable to the total income of a
company which has not made the arrangements referred to in sec. 194 (i.e. foreign
company) and such sum shall be payable by the master of the ship.
• For this purpose, the Assessing Officer may call for such accounts or documents as he may
require.
• No order assessing the income and determining the sum of tax payable thereon shall be
made after the expiry of 9 months from the end of the financial year in which the return is
furnished.

Other Provisions
Option to claim that assessment shall be made: The owner or charterer of a ship has option to
claim before the expiry of the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the date
of departure of the ship from the Indian port falls, that an assessment be made of his total

income of the previous year and the tax payable on the basis thereof be determined in

accordance with the other provisions of this Act. If he so claims, any payment made u/s 172

shall be treated as advance tax and the difference between the sum so paid and the amount of
tax found payable by him on such assessment shall be paid by him or refunded to him, as the
case may be [Sec. 172(7)]

The ship which leaves the Indian port and only casually visits the Indian port is covered by sec.
172 and those who do regular shipping business are covered by sec. 44B [V.M. Salgaocar &
Brother Ltd. -vs.- Deputy Controller [1991] 187 ITR 381 (Kar.)]

Profits & Gains in connection with the Business of Exploration, etc. of Mineral Oils [Sec. 44BB]
Applicable to - Non-resident assessee
Conditions - Assessee must be engaged in the business of -
• Providing services or facilities in connection with; or
• Supplying plant and machinery on hire, used or to be used in, – the prospecting for, or
extraction or production of, mineral oils.
Note:
1. Plant includes ships, aircraft, vehicles, drilling units, scientific apparatus and equipment,
used for the purpose of the said business
2. Mineral oil includes petroleum and natural gas.

Estimated income - A sum equal to 10% of the aggregate of the following amount shall be
deemed to be the profits and gains of such business chargeable to tax –
• The amount paid or payable (whether in or out of India) to the assessee (or to any person
on his behalf) on account of the provision of services and facilities in connection with, or
supply of plant and machinery on hire used, or to be used, in the prospecting for, or
extraction or production of, mineral oils in India; and
• The amount received or deemed to be received in India by or on behalf of the assessee on
account of the provision of services and facilities in connection with, or supply of plant and
machinery on hire used, or to be used, in the prospecting for, or extraction or production of,
mineral oils outside India.
Assessee may claim lower profit - An assessee may claim lower profits and gains if he keeps
and maintains books of account as per sec. 44AA and gets his accounts audited and furnishes
the report u/s 44AB and thereupon the Assessing Officer shall proceed to make an assessment
of the total income of the assessee u/s 143(3) & determine the sum payable by, or refundable
to, the assessee.

Profits and Gains of the Business of Operation of Aircraft [Sec. 44BBA]

Applicable to - Non-resident assessee
Conditions - Assessee must be engaged in the business of - operation of aircraft.
Estimated income - Income of such business shall be estimated at 5% of the aggregate of the
following •
• The amount paid or payable (whether in or out of India) to the assessee (or to any person
on his behalf) on account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods from any
place in India; and
• The amount received or deemed to be received in India by or on behalf of the assessee on
account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods from any place outside India.
Illustration 1.
USA Airlines incorporated as a company in USA operates its flights to India and vice versa during
the year 2021-22 and collects charges of Rs.150 lakh for carriage of passengers and cargo out of
which Rs. 90 lakh were received in US Dollars for the passenger fare booked from New York to

Mumbai. The total expenses for the year on operation of such flights were Rs.195 lakh. Income
chargeable to tax of the foreign airlines may please be computed.