CA Final – Direct Tax Laws Mock Test

Maximum Marks: 100
Time: 3 Hours

Instructions:

  1. Attempt all questions.
  2. Show all calculations with relevant sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
  3. Use proper tax planning and compliance reasoning where required.

Section A: Theory & Conceptual Questions (20 Marks)

Answer any 4 questions. Each carries 5 marks.

  1. Explain the residential status and scope of total income of an individual, including the difference between ROR, RNOR, and Non-Resident.
  2. Explain the taxability of salaries under the Income Tax Act, 1961, including allowances, perquisites, and deductions.
  3. Discuss capital gains under Sections 45, 48, and 54, including exemptions available for residential property and bonds.
  4. Explain tax audit provisions under Section 44AB, including applicability, reporting requirements, and penalties for non-compliance.
  5. Discuss Advance Tax, TDS, and TCS provisions, including sections applicable, due dates, and interest liability for defaults.

Section B: Practical / Numerical Problems (50 Marks)

Answer any 5 questions. Each carries 10 marks.

  1. Income Tax Computation: Mr. X, aged 50, has the following income for FY 2025-26:
    • Salary: ₹ 15,00,000
    • Short-term capital gain on listed equity shares: ₹ 3,00,000
    • Long-term capital gain on property: ₹ 8,00,000 (cost of acquisition ₹ 4,00,000; improvement ₹ 2,00,000; invested ₹ 5,00,000 in a new residential house)
    • Interest on fixed deposits: ₹ 2,00,000
    Required: Compute total taxable income and tax liability under the new regime.
  2. Set-off & Carry Forward: Mr. Y has:
    • Business loss: ₹ 5,00,000
    • Short-term capital gain (STCG – unlisted shares): ₹ 3,00,000
    • Long-term capital loss brought forward: ₹ 1,50,000
    Required: Compute taxable income after set-off and carry forward.
  3. Tax Planning Case: Mrs. Z sold her residential property for ₹ 60,00,000.
    • Cost of acquisition: ₹ 35,00,000
    • Cost of improvement: ₹ 5,00,000
    • She invested ₹ 20,00,000 in a new house and ₹ 5,00,000 in bonds under Sec 54EC.
    Required: Compute LTCG and exemptions claimed, and suggest tax planning strategies.
  4. TDS Computation: ABC Ltd. made the following payments:
    • Rent to resident: ₹ 3,00,000 (Sec 194I, 10% TDS)
    • Professional fees to CA: ₹ 1,50,000 (Sec 194J, 10% TDS)
    • Interest on fixed deposits: ₹ 2,00,000 (Sec 194A, 10% TDS)
    Required: Compute TDS liability and due date for deposit.
  5. Clubbing & Set-off Case: Mr. P gifted ₹ 10,00,000 to his son and received ₹ 1,00,000 income from it.
    • Dividend received from another source: ₹ 50,000
    • Interest on minor’s savings account: ₹ 20,000
    Required: Compute taxable income under clubbing provisions.

Section C: Case Study / Analytical Questions (30 Marks)

Answer any 2 questions. Each carries 15 marks.

  1. House Property & Loss Set-off Case: Mr. Q owns two properties:
    • Property A (self-occupied) – interest on loan ₹ 2,00,000
    • Property B (rented) – annual rent ₹ 3,00,000; interest on loan ₹ 1,50,000
    Required: Compute income from house property and set-off of loss under Sec 71.
  2. Corporate Tax Planning Case: A company earned ₹ 1,50,00,000 profit before tax.
    • Depreciation: ₹ 20,00,000
    • Donations eligible under Sec 80G: ₹ 5,00,000
    • MAT applicability: Assume 15%
    Required: Compute taxable income, tax liability, and MAT if applicable.
  3. Capital Gains & Investment Planning: Mr. R sold machinery (business asset) for ₹ 30,00,000.
    • WDV under block of asset: ₹ 12,00,000
    • Reinvested ₹ 10,00,000 in new machinery
    Required: Compute capital gains, exemptions under Sec 54F (if applicable), and planning strategies.

Solutions – CA Final: Direct Tax Laws (100 Marks)


Section A: Theory & Conceptual Questions (20 Marks)

  1. Residential Status & Scope of Total Income (Sec 6)
    • Resident & Ordinarily Resident (ROR): Worldwide income taxable
    • Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR): India-sourced income + income from business controlled in India
    • Non-Resident (NR): Only India-sourced income taxable
  2. Salary Income (Sec 15–17)
    • Components: Basic, HRA, allowances, perquisites, bonuses
    • Exemptions: HRA (Sec 10(13A)), leave encashment, pension (as per limits)
    • Deductions: Standard deduction ₹50,000, professional tax
  3. Capital Gains (Sec 45, 48, 54)
    • Short-Term: Equity shares ≤ 12 months → STCG @ 15%
    • Long-Term: Property > 36 months → LTCG 20% with indexation
    • Exemption Sec 54: LTCG from residential property reinvested in new house → exempt
  4. Tax Audit (Sec 44AB)
    • Applicability: Turnover > ₹ 1 crore (business), ₹ 50 lakh (profession)
    • Reported in Form 3CD
    • Penalty: ₹ 1,50,000 for non-compliance
  5. Advance Tax, TDS & TCS
    • Advance Tax: Payable in 4 installments (15th June, 15th Sep, 15th Dec, 15th Mar)
    • TDS Sections: 192 (salary), 194I (rent), 194J (professional fees), 194A (interest)
    • Interest for delay: Sec 234A/B/C

Section B: Practical / Numerical Problems (50 Marks)

Q1: Income Tax Computation

ParticularsAmount (₹)Notes
Salary15,00,000Fully taxable
Interest on FD2,00,000Fully taxable
STCG (Equity shares)3,00,000Taxed @ 15% Sec 111A
LTCG on property8,00,000Exemption under Sec 54: 5,00,000 invested → taxable LTCG = 3,00,000

Computation:

  • Total Income (excluding LTCG exempt) = 15,00,000 + 2,00,000 + 3,00,000 + 3,00,000 = ₹ 23,00,000
  • STCG Tax: 3,00,000 × 15% = ₹ 45,000
  • Income Tax on Salary + Interest + LTCG (3,00,000) using slabs (FY 2025-26, new regime):
    • 0–3,00,000 → 0
    • 3,00,001–6,00,000 → 5% of 3,00,000 = 15,000
    • 6,00,001–9,00,000 → 10% of 3,00,000 = 30,000
    • 9,00,001–12,00,000 → 15% of 3,00,000 = 45,000
    • 12,00,001–15,00,000 → 20% of 3,00,000 = 60,000
    • 15,00,001–18,00,000 → 25% of 5,00,000 = 1,25,000
  • Total Tax (excluding STCG) = 15,000 + 30,000 + 45,000 + 60,000 + 1,25,000 = ₹ 2,75,000
  • Add STCG Tax = 2,75,000 + 45,000 = ₹ 3,20,000

Q2: Set-off & Carry Forward

  • Business loss = ₹ 5,00,000
  • STCG (unlisted) = ₹ 3,00,000 → can set off against STCL, not against other STCG
  • LTCL B/F = ₹ 1,50,000 → set off against LTCG

Computation:

ParticularsAmount (₹)
STCG (unlisted)3,00,000
Less: Business loss set-off3,00,000 – 3,00,000 = 0 (set-off only for eligible items)
LTCL B/F1,50,000 → can adjust against future LTCG

Taxable income = STCG taxed separately, balance carried forward


Q3: Tax Planning Case

  • Sale Price = ₹ 60,00,000
  • Cost + Improvement = 35,00,000 + 5,00,000 = 40,00,000
  • LTCG = 60,00,000 – 40,00,000 = ₹ 20,00,000
  • Exemption under Sec 54EC (bonds) = 5,00,000
  • Exemption under Sec 54 (residential house) = 20,00,000 → limit is LTCG, so maximum exemption = 20,00,000

Taxable LTCG: ₹ 20,00,000 – 20,00,000 = ₹ 0

Planning: Invest in 54EC bonds to maximize exemption, stagger reinvestment to utilize Sec 54 fully


Q4: TDS Computation

PaymentSectionTDS RateTDS Amount
Rent194I10%3,00,000 × 10% = 30,000
Professional Fees194J10%1,50,000 × 10% = 15,000
Interest on FD194A10%2,00,000 × 10% = 20,000
  • Total TDS = 30,000 + 15,000 + 20,000 = ₹ 65,000
  • Due Date for Deposit: 7th of next month

Q5: Clubbing & Set-off

  • Minor’s income: ₹ 1,00,000 (gift from parent) → clubbed under parent’s income
  • Dividend: ₹ 50,000 → taxable under Sec 10(34) if equity listed shares
  • Interest: ₹ 20,000 → taxable under parent’s income if from transferred funds

Taxable Income after Clubbing:

  • Parent = 1,00,000 + 20,000 = ₹ 1,20,000
  • Dividend exempt if eligible → ₹ 50,000 exempt

Section C: Case Study / Analytical Questions (30 Marks)

Q1: House Property & Loss Set-off

  • Property A (self-occupied): Loss = Interest 2,00,000 → Max 2,00,000 allowable
  • Property B (rented): Income = Rent 3,00,000 – Interest 1,50,000 = 1,50,000
  • Net Income from House Property: 1,50,000 – 2,00,000 loss from A → set off to max 2,00,000 → Net = –50,000
  • Carry Forward Loss: –50,000 can be carried forward for 8 years

Q2: Corporate Tax Planning

  • Profit before tax = ₹ 1,50,00,000
  • Depreciation = ₹ 20,00,000 → Deduction allowed
  • Donation Sec 80G = ₹ 5,00,000 → Deduction
  • Taxable Income = 1,50,00,000 – 20,00,000 – 5,00,000 = 1,25,00,000
  • MAT = 15% of book profit → if applicable, pay higher of MAT vs normal tax

Q3: Capital Gains & Investment Planning

  • Sale of machinery = ₹ 30,00,000
  • WDV = ₹ 12,00,000
  • Capital Gain = Sale – WDV = 18,00,000
  • Reinvestment = ₹ 10,00,000 → partial exemption under Sec 54F or Sec 54(EC) (if eligible)
  • Remaining taxable gain = 8,00,000

Planning: Use Sec 54EC/54F investments to reduce taxable capital gains

Disclaimer:
This mock test is created for educational purposes only. Questions and solutions are original and inspired by typical CA Final exam patterns; they are not copied from any official CA exam papers.