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INCOME TAX · STARTUPS AND GROWING BUSINESSES

Company Losses: How Set-Off and Carry-Forward Really Work

Learn which company losses can reduce future profits, the eight-year rule, timely filing and the ownership-change trap.

By Vyapar Setu Online | Startups and growing businesses · 28 October 2026

A textile business owner reviewing costs at the factory

Business Income Tax series · Startups and growing businesses · Article 20 of 27

A loss-making year does not always mean the tax benefit disappears. An eligible tax loss can reduce later profits—but the loss shown in your financial statements is only the starting point.

Read the year first: Reviewed 28 October 2026. Tax Year 2026–27 uses the Income-tax Act, 2025 and Rules, 2026. Returns for FY 2025–26 / AY 2026–27 use the earlier framework. This guide identifies relevant old section names and current changes; apply each limit to its stated period.

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