Calculation of “Net Winnings” for Section 194BA – Winning from Online Games (2023)

  • Harikrushna Jajal
  • |Income Tax-Articles
  • |
  • 24 May 2023
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Finance Act 2023inserted a new section 194BA in the Income-tax Act, 1961 with effect from 1st April 2023. As per section 194BA, a person who is responsible for paying to any personany incomeby way of winnings from any online game during the financial yearto deduct income-tax on the net winningsin the person’s user account.Tax is required to be deducted at the time of withdrawal as well as at the end of the financial year.The manner of computation of net winning is prescribed in Rule 133 of the Income-tax Rules 1962, vide notification no. 28/2023 dated 22nd May 2023. In this article, manner of computation of Net Winning as prescribed in Rule 133 is explained with an example.

As per section 194BA,TDSis required to be deducted onNet Winning. Before knowing the computation of Net Winning, it is important to understand some terminology in this regard, which are as under:

A) Taxable depositmeans any amount deposited in the user account which is not a non-taxable deposit.

As percircular No. 5 of 2023 dated 22.05.2023issued by CBDT, any incentives/bonus which is withdrawable, will form part of taxable deposit.

B) Non-taxable depositmeans the amount deposited by the user in his user account and which is not taxable. As per circular No. 5 of 2023 dated 22.05.2023 issued by CBDT, any incentives/bonus which is not withdrawable, will not form part of Non-taxable deposit.

C) Withdrawalmeans any amount withdrawn by the user from any user account. As per circular No. 5 of 2023 dated 22.05.2023 issued by CBDT, It is important to note that transfer from one user account to another user account, maintained with the same online gaming intermediary, of the same user shall not be considered as withdrawal.

As per Rule 133 of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 Net winnings from online games shall be calculated using the following formula:

Net winnings during the previous year=(A+D)-(B+C)

Where;

A

Aggregate amount withdrawn from the user account during the financial year;
BAggregate amount of non-taxable deposit made in the user account by the assessee during the financial year
COpening balance of the user account at the beginning of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)
DClosing balance of the user account at the end of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)

With the help from above formula, one can calculate Net Winning for the Financial Year.If the amount of Net winning is NEGATIVE, then that amount will be ignored.

However, TDS is required to be deducted at the time of withdrawal and at the end of the year.

Calculation of “Net Winnings” for Section 194BA – Winning from Online Games (1)

So, for any withdrawal made during the year, TDS is required to calculated as per formula given by income tax department.

For easy understanding of calculations, Consider the example given hereunder:

Below is the one sample User account for the financial year maintained with the registered with an online gaming intermediary.

User Account for the FY 2023-24

DateParticularsDebit Amount (Rs.)Credit Amount (Rs.)Balance Amount (Rs.)Notation
01/04/2023Opening BalanceC
02/04/2023Joining Bonus/ referral bonus/Incentives/ promotional money(Non-Withdrawable)500500
02/04/2023Amount Added by User4,0004,500B
03/04/2023Loss from Online Game5004,000
04/04/2023Winning from Online Game1,5005,500
05/04/2023Loss from Online Game8004,700
07/04/2023Winning from Online Game4,0008,700
08/04/2023Amount Withdraw2,8005,900A
11/04/2023Loss from Online Game1,0004,900
12/04/2023Winning from Online Game5005,400
05/03/2024Joining Bonus/ referral bonus/Incentives/ promotional money(Withdrawable)5005,900
05/03/2024Amount Added by User2,5008,400B
10/03/2024Winning from Online Game2008,600
12/03/2024Amount Withdraw3,0005,600A
15/03/2024Amount Withdraw1,5004,100A
31/03/2024Closing Balance4,100D

Based on above account, Net winning for the Financial Year will be calculated as under:

Net winnings during the previous year=(A+D)-(B+C)

(7300+3600) – (6500+0) = 4400

A

Aggregate amount withdrawn from the user account during the financial year;7,300
BAggregate amount of non-taxable deposit made in the user account by the assessee during the financial year6,500
COpening balance of the user account at the beginning of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)0
DClosing balance of the user account at the end of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)3,600

(4100-500)

Net Winning for FY 2023-24 will be Rs.4,400/- on which TDS is required to be deducted during the FY.

However, TDS is required to be made at the time of withdrawal and at the end of the year. In that case, calculation at the different withdrawal and at the end of the year is required to be made.

The same is explained hereunder with the help of above user account example:

ParticularsNet Winning on Which TDS to be Deducted
1At the time of Withdrawal of Rs. 2,800/- on 08.04.2023
Net winnings =A-(B+C+E)NIL

(As negative)

AAggregate amount withdrawn from the user account during the financial year till the time of subsequent withdrawal2,800
BAggregate amount of non-taxable deposit made in the user account by the owner of such account till the time of withdrawal4,000
COpening balance of the user account at the beginning of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)0
ENet winnings comprised in the earlier withdrawal or withdrawals Computed as per formula, during the financial year till the time of withdrawal if TDS has been deducted on such winningsNot Applicable as this is first withdrawal of FY
2At the time of Withdrawal of Rs. 3,000/- on 12.03.2024
Net winnings =A-(B+C+E)NIL

(As negative)

AAggregate amount withdrawn from the user account during the financial year till the time of subsequent withdrawal5,800

(2800+3000)

BAggregate amount of non-taxable deposit made in the user account by the owner of such account till the time of withdrawal6,500
COpening balance of the user account at the beginning of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)0
ENet winnings comprised in the earlier withdrawal or withdrawals Computed as per formula, during the financial year till the time of withdrawal if TDS has been deducted on such winningsNIL

(As No TDS on Withdrawal made on 08.04.2023)

3At the time of Withdrawal of Rs.1,500/- on 15.03.2024
Net winnings =A-(B+C+E)800
AAggregate amount withdrawn from the user account during the financial year till the time of subsequent withdrawal7,300

(2800+3000

+1500)

BAggregate amount of non-taxable deposit made in the user account by the owner of such account till the time of withdrawal6,500
COpening balance of the user account at the beginning of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)0
ENet winnings comprised in the earlier withdrawal or withdrawals Computed as per formula, during the financial year till the time of withdrawal if TDS has been deducted on such winningsNIL

(As No TDS on Withdrawal made on 08.04.2023 & 12.03.2024)

4At the end of the FY on 31.03.2024
Net winnings =(A+D)-(B+C+E)3,600
AAggregate amount withdrawn from the user account during the financial year7,300

(2800+3000

+1500)

BAggregate amount of non-taxable deposit made in the user account by the owner of such account6,500
COpening balance of the user account at the beginning of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)0
DClosing balance of the user account at the end of the financial year (Excluding Incentive/Bonus Which is Non-Withdrawable)3,600
ENet winnings comprised in the earlier withdrawal or withdrawals Computed as per formula, during the financial year on which TDS deducted800

(As TDS made at the time of Withdrawal on 15.03.2024)

Total Amount of Net Winning on Which TDS is to be deducted4,400

It can be seen from the above table, that TDS is required to be made on Rs.800/- at the time of withdrawal on 15.03.2024 and at the end of the financial year on 31.03.2024 on Rs.3,600/-. So, TDS will get deducted on total Rs.4,400/-.

The same is reconciled with the Total Net Winning amount calculated above for the whole financial year.

Conclusion:

For the purpose of section 194BA, calculation of Net Winnings is required to be made at the time of each withdrawal and also at the end of the financial year. Negative Net winning shall not be considered for TDS purpose. Online gaming intermediaries are required to take due care for this purpose.

Reference:

Notification No. 28/2023 dated 22nd May 2023

Circular No. 5 of 2023 dated 22.05.2023

Tags:Budget,Budget 2023,Section 194BA,TDS

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