Previous year - Definition / Legal Terminology - Income Tax

As per section 3 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, For the purposes of this Act. previous year means the financial year immediately preceding the assessment year : Provided that, in the case of a business or profession newly set up, or a source of income newly coming into existence, in the said financial year, the previous year shall be the period beginning with the date of setting up of the business or profession or, as the case may be, the date on which the source of income newly comes into existence and ending with the said financial year.