Can remuneration received by spouse of an individual be clubbed with his/her income?

Under certain circumstances as given in section 64(1)(ii), remuneration (i.e., salary) received by the spouse of an individual from a concern in which the individual is having substantial interest is clubbed with the income of the individual. Provisions in this regard are as follows:

The individual is having substantial interest in a concern (*).

Spouse of the individual is employed in the concern in which the individual is having substantial interest.

The spouse of the individual is employed without any technical or professional knowledge or experience (i.e., remuneration is not justifiable).

(*) An individual shall be deemed to have substantial interest in any concern, if such individual alone or along with his relatives beneficially holds at any time during the previous year 20% or more of the equity shares (in case of a company) or is entitled to 20% of profit (in case of concern other than a company).

Relative for this purpose includes husband, wife, brother or sister or lineal ascendant or descendant of that individual [ section 2(41)].

Illustration A

Mr. Raja is beneficially holding 21% equity shares of Essem Minerals Pvt. Ltd. Mrs. Raja is employed as Manager (in accounts department) in Essem Minerals Pvt. Ltd. at a monthly salary of Rs. 84,000. Mrs. Raja is not having any knowledge, experience or qualification in the field of accountancy. Will the remuneration (i.e., salary) received by Mrs. Raja be clubbed with the income of Mr. Raja?

**

In this situation, Mr. Raja is having substantial interest in Essem Minerals Pvt. Ltd. and remuneration of Mrs. Raja is not justifiable (i.e., she is employed without any technical or professional knowledge or experience) and, hence, salary received by Mrs. Raja from Essem Minerals Pvt. Ltd. will be clubbed with the income of Mr. Raja and will be taxed in the hands of Mr. Raja.

Illustration B

Mrs. Kumar is beneficially holding 25% equity shares of SM Construction Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Kumar is an architect and he is employed as site observer of one of the construction sites of the SM Construction Pvt. Ltd. at a monthly salary of Rs. 28,400. The remuneration received by Mr. Kumar is justifiable considering his knowledge, experience and qualification. Will the remuneration received by Mr. Kumar be clubbed with the income of Mrs. Kumar because she is having substantial interest in SM Construction Pvt. Ltd.?

**

In this situation, Mrs. Kumar is having substantial interest in SM Construction Pvt. Ltd., but Mr. Kumar is deputed on the basis of his knowledge, experience and qualification and, hence, remuneration paid to him is justifiable. The clubbing provisions of section 64(1)(ii)​​ apply only in a case where spouse is deputed without any technical or professional knowledge or experience. In this case, the remuneration of spouse is justifiable, hence, salary received by Mr. Kumar will not be clubbed with the income of Mrs. Kumar but will be taxed in his hands.