Law of Taxation

“Taxes are what we pay for a civilised society.” — Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr (1927)

Free, exam-ready Law of Taxation notes for LL.B. — concise topic notes, comparison charts, landmark cases and solved IRAC problems. Pick any topic below.

Unit I — General — Concept & Constitutional Basis of Taxation

• Concept, Nature & Characteristics of Tax; Kinds of Taxes
• Direct Tax vs Indirect Tax
• Tax vs Fee; Tax vs Cess; Compensatory/Regulatory Tax
• Tax Evasion, Tax Avoidance & Tax Planning; Retrospective Taxation
• Power of Taxation under the Constitution (Art. 265; the Federal Base)
• Immunity of State Agencies; Fundamental Rights & the Power of Taxation
• Commerce Clause; Inter-State Commerce and Taxation
• Delegation of Taxing Power; Centre-State Tax Relations
• Finance Commission

Unit II — Direct Tax Regime — The Income Tax Act, 1961

• Income — Meaning, Concept & Characteristics; Aims of the Act
• Person; Assessee; Assessment Year vs Previous Year
• Residential Status & Scope of Total Income (ss.5–9)
• Agricultural Income & its Taxability
• Incomes Exempt from Tax (s.10, 10AA); Casual Income
• Income from Salaries (ss.15–17); Perquisites; Deductions
• Income from House Property (ss.22–27)
• Profits & Gains of Business or Profession (ss.28–44)
• Capital Gains (ss.45–55); Capital vs Revenue Receipt
• Income from Other Sources (ss.56–59)
• Clubbing of Income (ss.60–65); Set-off & Carry-Forward (ss.70–80)
• Permissible Deductions — Chapter VI-A (ss.80C–80U)
• Deduction of Tax at Source (TDS) & Advance Tax
• Assessment — Kinds; Return of Income & E-Filing; Refund
• Income-Tax Authorities; ITAT; CBDT; Power to Reduce/Waive Penalty
• Collection & Recovery of Tax
• Appeal & Revision Provisions
• Offences & Penalties; PAN

Unit III — Indirect Tax Regime — GST: Concept, CGST & Administration

• Concept & Features of GST; Benefits; Impact on the Economy
• Constitutional Basis of GST — the 101st Amendment (2016)
• Dual GST Model; CGST & SGST; Salient Features
• Levy & Collection on “Supply” (ss.7 & 9 CGST); the Taxable Event
• GST Council (Art. 279A) — Structure, Powers & Functions
• Registration under GST — Procedure & Advantages
• Input Tax Credit; Composition Levy; Works Contract; Tax Invoice; GSTN
• Exemption of Tax under GST

Unit IV — Indirect Tax Regime — IGST, SGST, UTGST & State Revenue

• IGST — Inter-State Supply; Nature & Place of Supply; Imports/Exports
• UTGST — GST for Union Territories
• Compensation to States; Impact of GST on State Revenue
• Reverse Charge Mechanism; Anti-Profiteering Authority
• Securities Transaction Tax (STT); GST Exemption on Securities

Unit V — Custom Law

• Customs Officers — Appointment, Powers & Functions
• Search, Seizure & Arrest; Detection of Smuggled Goods
• Levy, Assessment of Duty & Valuation of Goods; Dutiable Goods
• Clearance of Imported Goods from the Port
• Baggage
• Duty Drawback
• Warehousing; Ports; Goods in Transit
• Restrictions & Prohibitions on Imports and Exports; Prohibited Goods
• Goods Imported or Exported by Post
• Exemption from Customs Duty
• SEZ Units

✏️ Practice

• 10 Solved Problems (IRAC Method) — KSLU-style problems worked in full
• KSLU Past Questions & Exam Topics

Download the Law of Taxation Complete Bundle + Question Bank — ₹199 — the full study notes plus a Question Bank of model answers (essays + problems) for every previously-asked KSLU question, in one printable PDF for all 5 units.

🆓 Free sample: Download Unit 1 (free PDF)