PARTNERSHIP FIRM IN INDIA

A partnership is a business entity having two or more owners. Earnings are distributed according to the partnership agreement and are treated as personal income for tax purposes. Thus, like the sole proprietorship, the partnership is simply a conduit for directing income to its partners. Partnership has a unique liability situation. Each partner is jointly and severally liable. Thus, a damaged party can pursue a single partner or any number of partners- and that claim may or may not be proportional to the invested capital of the partners or the distribution of the earnings. This means that if the one partner did something to damage a customer, that customer could sue all the partners even though other partner played no part in the problem.
Organizing a partnership is not as effortless as with a sole proprietorship. The partners must determine, and should set down in writing, their agreement on a number of issues:
The amount and nature of their respective capital contributions (e.g., one partner might contribute cash, another a patent, and a third property and cash)
How the business’s profits and losses will be allocated
Salaries and draws against profits
Management responsibilities
The consequences of withdrawal, retirement, disability, or the death of a partner
The means of dissolution and liquidation of the partnership
ADVANTAGES OF A PARTNERSHIP
Partnerships have many of the same advantages of the sole proprietorship, along with others:
· Except for the time and the legal cost of crafting a partnership agreement, it is easy to establish.
· Because there is more than one owner, the entity has more than one pool of capital to tap in financing the business and its operations.
· Profits from the business flow directly to the partners personal tax returns; they are not subject to a second level of taxation.
· The entity can draw on the judgment and management of more than one person. In the best cases, the partners will have complementary skills.
. The Partners Can withdraw profits from the business in the Name of Interest on Capital and Salary but subject to certain limits.
The Registration of the Partnership is optional
DISADVANTAGES OF A PARTNERSHIP
As mentioned earlier, partners are jointly and severally liable for the actions of the other partners. Thus, one partner can put other partners at risk without their knowledge or consent. Other disadvantages include the following:
· Profits must be shared among the partners.
· With two or more partners being privy to decisions, decision making may de slower and more difficult than in a sole proprietorship. Disputes can tie the partnership in knots.
· As with a sole proprietorship, the cost of some employee benefits may not be deductible from income taxation.
Depending on the partnership agreement, the partnership may have a limited life. Unless otherwise specified, it will end upon the withdrawal or death of any partner.
The Partnership firm is not a separate legal entity. Meaning Assets cannot be purchased in the name of the Partnership firm.
There are certain limits for withdrawals such as Interest on Capital & Salary to partners. Tax has to be paid if the amount paid exceeds these limits.
Tax Rates for a Partnership Firm
Income of the Partnership firm is chargeable @ 30% flat.
Surcharge is applicable @ 10% for firms having total income exceeding Rs.1 Crore
Educational Cess @ 3% is also applicable for all firms.

5 thoughts on “PARTNERSHIP FIRM IN INDIA”

  1. Praveen Vishnu Shamain

    Dear Sir,

    Assuming that a partnership firm was formed by two partners A (majority partner) & B (minority partner) and now B wants to leave the firm?

    What happens in such a case, if A doesn’t want to close the firm and also doesn’t want to take any other partners.

    Can the said partnership firm continue with A owning 100%?

    Please let me know your view.

    Thanks in advance.

  2. In such a case, you donot have any other option other than dissolving the firm. For any partnership more than one person has to be partners at any point of time. One man partnership is not possible in India at present. My view , you can take a new partner (say your spouse,brother,sister,etc., )for a 1% or 2% minor stake so that you continue to hold the stake in the firm as well as do not lose the entity.

  3. dear sir,
    my query is, in a partnership firm which is carrying on a diagnostic lab and the partners being the doctors rendering the services to the diagnostic lab, can they also be considered as the employees for the services they render to the lab and draw the salary apart from taking remunaration as partners.

  4. Dear Sir,

    We are running a partnership firm with some profit of 6-7 lacs/ yr

    Will it be advisable to show some salary of partners or we shall show all profit as expenses.

  5. Dear Mitesh,

    I presume all your partners are having income below taxable limits.

    In such a case, it will be a prudent tax plan to pay partners remuneration to the maximum allowable to the partners. Say the payment 180000 for each of the partners will save you a tax of Rs. 108000/- (180000 x 2 x 30%) .

    Please note u/s. 40 (b) of the Income-tax act, the payment of remuneration is subject to the following conditions :-
    1) The remuneration is payable to working partners of the firm
    2) The clause regarding payment of remuneration shall be present in the Partnership deed in writing
    3) It is subject to the limits as specified u/s. 40 (b) (i.e.,)

    On First 300000/- Book Profits – Rs. 150000 (or) 90% of Book Profits whichever is higher
    On Balance of Book Profits – 60 % of the Book Profits

    4) The remuneration should not pertain to period prior to partnership deed

    On the other hand, by writing off as expenses , you run the risk of not having proper vouchers for the same, which is against law and also you loose the capital in books of accounts.

Comments are closed.