Claim audit · FY 2026-27
“REIT and InvIT distributions are fully tax-free like dividends”
The condition that decides it
REIT/InvIT distributions have three components: dividend (10% TDS, taxable at slab), interest income (taxable at slab, 10% TDS), and return of capital (not taxable but reduces your cost basis). Only the return-of-capital portion is tax-neutral at the time of receipt.
What the department sees
MEDIUM
Data the Income-tax Department already receives automatically — the reel doesn't mention this part.
The real math
An investor holds 1,000 units of a listed REIT priced at ₹350 and receives a quarterly distribution of ₹7.50 per unit (₹7,500 total). The trustee breaks it down: ₹3.00 as dividend (subject to 10% TDS u/s 194LBA — TDS ₹300; taxable in the investor's hands at their slab rate), ₹2.50 as interest income (10% TDS — TDS ₹250; again slab-rate income), and ₹2.00 as return of capital (no TDS, not taxable now, but each ₹2 reduces cost basis from ₹350 to ₹348). Over four quarters the investor receives ₹30,000, of which ₹20,000 is taxable (dividend + interest portions). If the investor is in the 30% slab, tax owed on the income portion is ₹6,000 — the TDS of ₹2,200 is set off and the balance is paid at ITR time. When the investor eventually sells the units at a gain, LTCG above 12 months is taxed at 12.5% u/s 112A but without the ₹1.25L exemption that listed equity enjoys. Treating the entire distribution as tax-free understates income materially and will cause a mismatch with AIS.
Questions people actually ask
There's a right way to do this
How are REIT and InvIT distributions taxed?
Sections: 10(23FC), 194LBA, 112A · We audit claims, not creators. Reviewed by Harun Raaj & Associates, Chartered Accountants · All audited claims