Here we are trying to list the taxation and accounting implications for a typically Demerger of companies.
The Implications are studied for Resultant and the Demerged Company
2. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
FOCUS
Demerger
Tax Aspects
Transfer of Allowance
3. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
CONCEPT- DEMERGER
CO “B”
Demerger
Transfers all the assets and liabilities, employees, contracts and everything of the division ‘Y’
Shareholder 1
Issues consideration (Share,
Debentures, Warrants, cash etc.)
In all the Demergers, the demerging company (Co “A”) exists after the demerger.
Exception to issuing consideration: Company “A” is 100% subsidiary of Company “B”
Division YDivision X
Shareholder 2
Shareholder 3
4. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
DEFINITIONS
DEMERGER [Section 2(19AA)]
Though the term demerger is not defined in the Companies Act, the Income Tax Act defines the
term as follows:
"Demerger", in relation to companies, means the transfer, pursuant to a scheme of arrangement
under sections 391 to 394 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), by a demerged company of its
one or more undertakings to any resulting company in such a manner that-
All the property and liabilities of the undertaking, being transferred by the demerged company,
immediately before the demerger, becomes the property or liabilities of the resulting company by
virtue of the demerger.
5. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
DEFINITIONS
The property and the liabilities are transferred at values appearing in its books of account
immediately before the demerger.
The resulting company issues, in consideration of the demerger, its shares to the shareholders of the
demerged company on a proportionate basis.
The shareholders holding not less than three-fourths in value of the shares in the demerged company
(other than shares already held therein immediately before the demerger, or by a nominee for, the
resulting company or, its subsidiary) become shareholders of the resulting company or companies by
virtue of the demerger.
The transfer of the undertaking is on a going concern basis.
6. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
TAXATION
Tax Liability in the Hands of the Demerged Company
The demerged company is not liable to tax as it is a transferor company as transfer of capital assets
in the course of a demerger has specifically been excluded from the tax purview, thus there is no tax
liability.
Tax Liability in the Hands of the Resulting Company
There would not be tax implication even in the hands of the resulting company during the
demerger.
7. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
TAXATION
Tax liability in the hands of shareholders of the demerged company
Where a scheme for demerger is sanctioned by the High Court, the shareholders of the demerged
company are issued shares in the resulting company and the shareholders are not required to pay any
consideration for the shares so allotted. The tax liability in such a case would arise in the hands of
shareholders only on sale of the shares of the resulting company received by the shareholders.
8. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
ALLOWANCE ALLOWED IN TAXATION
Depreciation : Proportionate
depreciation in ratio to the
number of days assets is used by
the demerged company in
relation to the total days in a
year is allowable for deduction
while computing tax liability.
Depreciation :
Proportionate depreciation in ratio
to the number of days the assets
are used is allowable for deduction
while computing tax liability.
Resulting Company
Year in which Demerger took place
Demerged Company
9. 9
ALLOWANCE ALLOWED IN TAXATION
Resulting CompanyDemerged Company
Demerger Expenses:
Expenses wholly incurred for
demerger are allowable as
deduction over a period of 5 years
in equal installments from the year
in which such demerger has taken
place.
Bad Debts :
Bad debts pertaining to the
resulting company are transfer to
resulting company.
Demerger Expenses:
Deduction of expenses over a period
of 5 years is also available to the
resulting company.
Bad Debts :
Any recovery of bad debts transferred
from the demerged company is
treated as taxable income in the
hands of the resulting company.
10. Accounting & Taxation Aspects Of Demerger
Treatment of Stock in Trade in Demerger :
The Stock-in-trade is to be transferred at book value only. Hence the cost of stock in trade will be the same
to the transferee company.
Business Loss and Unabsorbed Depreciation [Section 72A]:
In a case of demerger, the accumulated loss and the allowance for unabsorbed depreciation of the demerged
company shall be allowed to be carried forward and set off in the hands of the resulting company, where
such loss or unabsorbed depreciation is directly relatable to the undertakings transferred to the resulting
company
ALLOWANCE ALLOWED IN TAXATION