Worked Solution
✓ VerifiedAnswer: (A) and (B) ₹26,700
For Assessment Year 2025-26 (Financial Year 2024-25, i.e., 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025), the taxable income from other sources comprises:
Interest on FDR: ₹26,700 (gross). This is clearly taxable as income from other sources under Schedule I of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Forfeited Advances: The advances forfeited from Mrs. Mani (₹5 lakh, February 2024) and Mr. Madan (₹8 lakh, April 2024) are NOT separately taxable as income from other sources. When advances are forfeited in failed property sales, they are treated as part of the capital transaction computation under Section 48 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (regarding cost of acquisition or sale consideration adjustments), rather than as separate "Income from other sources" under Section 56 or Schedule I. Therefore, these amounts do not constitute independent income from other sources.
Capital Gains: The actual sale to Mr. Mohan on 23rd June 2024 for ₹45 lakh results in capital gains, which fall under the head "Capital Gains" (Section 45-55 of the Income Tax Act), not "Income from other sources."
Note on Section 115BAC(1A): The opting out of the default taxation regime does not alter the computation of income; it only affects the tax rate applicable.
Final Answer: The taxable income from other sources = ₹26,700
Write it like this
1The skeleton
- Scan for the IFOS item first — FDR interest of ₹26,700 jumps out immediately as the textbook IFOS entry; lock it in before reading the rest of the question.
- Dismiss the forfeited advances fast — both ₹5L (Mrs. Mani) and ₹8L (Mr. Madan) are capital transaction adjustments under Section 51, NOT standalone IFOS; writing this distinction even briefly signals you know the law.
- Don't let Section 115BAC(1A) distract you — it's a decoy detail about tax regime, not about income computation; examiners plant it to see if you panic and overthink.
2Examiner-rewarded phrases
3Common trap
The killer trap here is adding ₹8 lakh (Mr. Madan's forfeited advance, April 2024) to IFOS thinking Section 56(2)(ix) applies — a lot of students do this and blow the MCQ. Remember, forfeited advances go to reduce cost of acquisition under Section 51 in the capital gains computation, not separately into IFOS.