§ 184
Chapter XI — General Anti-A Voidance Rule
Interpretation
Income-tax Act, 2025
This section defines various terms used in this chapter, including 'accommodating party', 'arrangement', 'asset', 'benefit', and 'connected person'. These definitions are crucial for understanding the provisions related to tax benefits and arrangements. Key terms also include 'fund', 'party', 'relative', and 'substantial interest'.
- A person is considered to have a substantial interest in a business if they own at least 20% of the voting power or are entitled to at least 20% of the profits.
📜 Official text of the section +
184. For the purposes of this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,—
( 1) “accommodating party” means a party to an arrangement, if the main
purpose of the direct or indirect participation of that party in the
arrangement, in whole or in part, is to obtain, directly or indirectly, a tax
benefit (but for the provisions of this Chapter) for the assessee whether
or not the party is a connected person in relation to any party to the
arrangement;
( 2) “arrangement” means any step in, or a part or whole of, any transaction,
operation, scheme, agreement or understanding, whether enforceable
or not, and includes the alienation of any property in such transaction,
operation, scheme, agreement or understanding;
( 3) “asset” includes property, or right, of any kind;
( 4) “benefit” includes a payment of any kind whether in tangible or intangible
form;
( 5) “connected person” means any person who is connected directly or
indirectly to another person and includes,—
( a) any relative of the person, if such person is an individual;
( b) any director of the company or any relative of such director, if the
person is a company;
( c) any partner or member of a firm or association of persons or body
of individuals or any relative of such partner or member, if the
person is a firm or association of persons or body of individuals;
( d) any member of the Hindu undivided family or any relative of such
member, if the person is a Hindu undivided family;
( e) any individual who has a substantial interest in the business of the
person or any relative of such individual;
( f) a company, firm or an association of persons or a body of indivi-
duals, whether incorporated or not, or a Hindu undivided family
having a substantial interest in the business of the person or any
director, partner, or member of the company, firm or association
of persons or body of individuals or family, or any relative of such
director, partner or member;
( g) a company, firm or association of persons or body of individuals,
whether incorporated or not, or a Hindu undivided family, whose
director, partner, or member has a substantial interest in the business
of the person, or family or any relative of such director, partner or
member;
( h) any other person who carries on a business, if—
( i) the person being an individual, or any relative of such person,
has a substantial interest in the business of that other person;
or
( ii) the person being a company, firm, association of persons,
body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or a Hindu
undivided family, or any director, partner or member of such
company, firm or association of persons or body of individuals
or family, or any relative of such director, partner or mem -
ber, has a substantial interest in the business of that other
person;
( 6) “fund” includes—
( a) any cash;
( b) cash equivalents; and
( c) any right, or obligation, to receive or pay, the cash or cash equiva-
lent;
( 7) “party” includes a person or a permanent establishment which partici -
pates or takes part in an arrangement;
( 8) “relative” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 92(5)(g)23;
( 9) a person shall be deemed to have a substantial interest in the business,
if,—
( a) in a case where the business is carried on by a company, such per-
son is, at any time during the financial year, the beneficial owner
of equity shares carrying at least 20% of the voting power; or
( b) in any other case, such person is, at any time during the financial
year, beneficially entitled to at least 20% of the profits of such
business;
( 10) “step” includes a measure or an action, particularly one of a series
taken in order to deal with or achieve a particular thing or object in the
arrangement;
( 11) “tax benefit” includes,—
( a) a reduction or avoidance or deferral of tax or other amount payable
under this Act; or
( b) an increase in a refund of tax or other amount under this Act; or
( c) a reduction or avoidance or deferral of tax or other amount that
would be payable under this Act, as a result of a tax treaty; or
( d) an increase in a refund of tax or other amount under this Act as a
result of a tax treaty; or
( e) a reduction in total income; or
( f) an increase in loss,
in the relevant tax year or any other tax year;
( 12) “tax treaty” means an agreement referred to in section 159(1) or (2).
CHAPTER XII
MODE OF PAYMENT IN CERTAIN CASES, ETC.
Mode of taking or accepting certain loans, deposits and specified sum.
Plain-language summary — not the official text. Refer to the bare Act and confirm with a professional for your specific case.
Related sections
§ 178Applicability of General Anti-Avoidance Rule§ 179Impermissible avoidance arrangement§ 180Arrangement to lack commercial substance§ 181Consequences of impermissible avoidance arrangement. [S. 98 of the 1961 Act]§ 182Treatment of connected person and accommodating party§ 183Application of this Chapter