Can you claim Section 54F tax exemption on sale of inherited agricultural land? Here's what expert says

Can you claim tax exemption on the sale of inherited agricultural land? That was the query posed by an individual who inherited farmland from his father, making him the second generation to hold the property. The original purchase of this non-residential asset dates back an estimated 40 to 50 years.

He wanted to know whether reinvesting the sale proceeds from the agricultural land in a residential house would qualify for deduction under Section 54F of the Income-tax Act, or whether the transaction falls under Section 54.

Parizad Sirwalla, Partner and National Head – Tax, Global Mobility Services, KMPG, said that to determine taxability on the land parcel's sale as capital gains and related deductions, “it should first be examined whether the said agricultural land qualifies as a capital asset.”

As per the Income-tax Act, 1961(the old Act/ the Income-tax Act, 2025 (the new Act), agricultural land in India does not qualify as a capital asset, except where:

• Agricultural land is situated in any area within the jurisdiction of a municipality or cantonment board which has a population of 10,000 or more or;
• Agricultural land is situated in an area with a population as specified in the table below:

Accordingly, Sirwalla said, only where an agricultural land qualifies as a capital asset based on the above, the sale of the same shall give rise to taxable capital gains.

Assuming that the agricultural land of the individual qualifies as a capital asset, as the total holding period of the land (including that of previous owners) is 40-50 years, Sirwalla said it shall qualify to be a long-term capital asset, and gains on the same shall be considered long-term (LTCG).

What deductions are this agricultural land sale eligible for?

Sirwalla said that the deduction under Section 54 of the old Act (Section 82 of the new Act) is available towards LTCG arising on the sale of a residential house.

Accordingly, she said, the sale of agricultural land shall not be eligible for deduction under this section.

Sirwalla added that the deduction under Section 54F of the old Act (Section 86 of the new Act) is available towards LTCG arising on the sale of any long-term capital asset (except a residential house).

Accordingly, she said that, in this case, the deduction under this section can be examined if the net consideration is invested in a residential house in India within the specified timelines and all other specified conditions are satisfied.

Sirwalla suggested that there is another deduction prescribed under Section 54B of the old Act (Section 83 of the new Act), towards LTCG arising on the sale of any land which was used by the assessee/ his parent for agricultural purposes.

“If another land is purchased for use for agricultural purposes, subject to satisfaction of other specified timelines and conditions, which may be examined if applicable,” she said.