§ 108
Chapter VII — Set Off, Or Carry Forward And Set Off Of Losses

SET OFF, OR CARRY FORWARD AND SET OFF OF LOSSES Set off of losses under same head of income

Income-tax Act, 2025

Business owners can set off losses from one source against income from another source under the same head of income for the same tax year. This applies to most heads of income, except capital gains.

  • Short-term capital losses can be set off against short-term capital gains.
  • Long-term capital losses can be set off against long-term capital gains.

📜 Official text of the section +
108. (1) Unless provided otherwise in this Act, for any tax year, if net result of computation from any source under any head of income (other than “Capital gains”) is a loss, then assessee shall be entitled to set off such loss against his income from any other source under the same head for that tax year. (2) Where the net result of computation of income made for any tax year under sections 72 to 90 in respect of— ( a) any short-term capital asset is a loss, such loss shall be set off against the income, computed in respect of any other capital asset for that year; ( b) any long-term capital asset is a loss, such loss shall be set off against the income computed in respect of any other long-term capital asset for that year. Set off of losses under any other head of income.

Plain-language summary — not the official text. Refer to the bare Act and confirm with a professional for your specific case.