Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) is not defined under the Income Tax Act but is covered under the Hindu Law. By definition, it consists of all individuals who are lineally descended from a common ancestor and also comprises of unmarried daughters. HUF is not formed by a contract but by the status of a family i.e., it is created automatically in any Hindu Family. Having a common ancestor is a pre-requisite to form a HUF. REQUIREMENTS TO FORM A HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY (HUF) Minimum two members are required to form a HUF, constituting a joint family. Owning an estate or a property is not mandatory to form a HUF. The Hindu Law though does not govern Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs; it can be treated as a HUF for taxation purpose. BENEFITS OF FORMING A HUF One of the major benefits of Hindu Undivided Family is that it is considered as a separate legal entity. This entitles HUF to obtain a separate PAN card and bank accounts in the name of the HUF. Once a HUF is formed, typically the oldest member of...