Meaning of “For the purpose of employment”

The meaning of for the purpose of employment used in section 6 of the Income Tax Act is not defined in the act itself. But we can take guidance from decisions by various high courts. Here is an excerpt of the court’s order in which the Hon’ble Tribunal tried to explain the meaning of for the purpose of employment.

Meaning of for the purpose of employment defined by court

The phrase ‘for the purpose of employment’ used in section 6 of the Income Tax Act came up before Hon’ble ITAT-Bangalore in ITO Vs. Dr. M.P. Konanhalli [1995] 55 ITD 266 and it explained.

Meaning : The expression ‘for the purpose of employment’ cannot be considered as equivalent to ‘in connection with employment’. Hence, if somebody was already in employment, came to india either during the relevant previous year or in the immediately preceding previous year, stayed here for some time and again departed from india to rejoin his employment, such a case cannot be considered to be falling within the ambit of clause (a) of the explanation.

On the other hand, such case must be considered to be falling within the purview of clause (b) of the explanation where a reference is clearly made to citizens of india or persons of indian origin who, already being outside india, comes on a visit to india in any previous year.

Section 6 of Income Tax Act

Residence in India.

6. For the purposes of this Act,—

(1) An individual is said to be resident in India in any previous year, if he—

(a) is in India in that year for a period or periods amounting in all to one hundred and eighty-two days or more ; or

(b) [***]

(c) having within the four years preceding that year been in India for a period or periods amounting in all to three hundred and sixty-five days or more, is in India for a period or periods amounting in all to sixty days or more in that year.

Explanation 1.—In the case of an individual,—

(a) being a citizen of India, who leaves India in any previous year as a member of the crew of an Indian ship as defined in clause (18) of section 3 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), or for the purposes of employment outside India, the provisions of sub-clause (c) shall apply in relation to that year as if for the words “sixty days”, occurring therein, the words “one hundred and eighty-two days” had been substituted ;

(b) being a citizen of India, or a person of Indian origin within the meaning of Explanation to clause (e) of section 115C, who, being outside India, comes on a visit to India in any previous year, the provisions of sub-clause (c) shall apply in relation to that year as if for the words “sixty days”, occurring therein, the words “one hundred and eighty-two days” had been substituted [and in case of [such person] having total income, other than the income from foreign sources, exceeding fifteen lakh rupees during the previous year, for the words “sixty days” occurring therein, the words “one hundred and twenty days” had been substituted].]

Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, in the case of an individual, being a citizen of India and a member of the crew of a foreign bound ship leaving India, the period or periods of stay in India shall, in respect of such voyage, be determined in the manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.

[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), an individual, being a citizen of India, having total income, other than the income from foreign sources, exceeding fifteen lakh rupees during the previous year shall be deemed to be resident in India in that previous year, if he is not liable to tax in any other country or territory by reason of his domicile or residence or any other criteria of similar nature.]

[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that this clause shall not apply in case of an individual who is said to be resident in India in the previous year under clause (1).]

(2) A Hindu undivided family, firm or other association of persons is said to be resident in India in any previous year in every case except where during that year the control and management of its affairs is situated wholly outside India.

(3) A company is said to be a resident in India in any previous year, if—

(i) it is an Indian company; or

(ii) its place of effective management, in that year, is in India.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause “place of effective management” means a place where key management and commercial decisions that are necessary for the conduct of business of an entity as a whole are, in substance made.

(4) Every other person is said to be resident in India in any previous year in every case, except where during that year the control and management of his affairs is situated wholly outside India.

(5) If a person is resident in India in a previous year relevant to an assessment year in respect of any source of income, he shall be deemed to be resident in India in the previous year relevant to the assessment year in respect of each of his other sources of income.

(6) A person is said to be “not ordinarily resident” in India in any previous year if such person is—

(a) an individual who has been a non-resident in India in nine out of the ten previous years preceding that year, or has during the seven previous years preceding that year been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to, seven hundred and twenty-nine days or less; or

(b) a Hindu undivided family whose manager has been a non-resident in India in nine out of the ten previous years preceding that year, or has during the seven previous years preceding that year been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to, seven hundred and twenty-nine days or less [; or

(c) a citizen of India, or a person of Indian origin, having total income, other than the income from foreign sources, exceeding fifteen lakh rupees during the previous year, as referred to in clause (b) of Explanation 1 to clause (1), who has been in India for a period or periods amounting in all to one hundred and twenty days or more but less than one hundred and eighty-two days; or

(d) a citizen of India who is deemed to be resident in India under clause (1A).

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, the expression “income from foreign sources” means income which accrues or arises outside India (except income derived from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India)] 26[and which is not deemed to accrue or arise in India].]

In this article, you can get guidance from supreme courts on the meaning of for the purpose of employment under section 6 of the Income Tax Act.

Updated up to Finance Act 2021