Introduction
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty around the planned deal-making activities of many middle market private equity funds. However, this environment also creates significant opportunity to provide investment and financing to companies that find themselves in distressed circumstances.
Background
In the recent case of Commissioner v Mahindra and Mahindra Limited (Judgment) [Civil Appeal Nos. 6949-6950 of 2004], a division bench of the Supreme Court of India (SC) has ruled that waiver of principal portion of loan (which was taken for capital account transaction) by a creditor is not taxable in borrower’s hands under section 28(iv) or section 41(1) of the Income-tax Act 1961 (Act). Taxability of loan waiver has been a matter of debate and the relevant provisions under normal income-tax computation provide as under: |