A - RATES OF INCOME-TAX - DIRECT TAXES - Finance Bill, 2017

FINANCE BILL, 2017 PROVISIONS RELATING TO DIRECT TAXES Introduction The provisions of Finance Bill, 2017 relating to direct taxes seek to amend the Income-tax Act, 1961 ('the Act') and the Finance Act, 2016. A. Rates of Income-tax B. Additional Resource Mobilisation C. Measures for Promoting Affordable Housing and Real Estate Sector D. Measures for Stimulating Growth E. Promoting Digital Economy F. Transparency in Electoral Funding G. Ease of doing Business H. Anti-abuse Measures I. Rationalisation Measures J. Benefit for NPS subscribers DIRECT TAXES A. RATES OF INCOME-TAX I. Rates of income-tax in respect of income liable to tax for the assessment year 2017-18. In respect of income of all categories of assessees liable to tax for the assessment year 2017-18, the rates of income-tax have been specified in Part I of the First Schedule to the Bill. These are the same as those laid down in Part III of the First Schedule to the Finance Act, 2016 as amended by the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 (No.48 of 2016), for the purposes of computation of advance tax , deduction of tax at source from Salaries and charging of tax payable in certain cases. (1) Surcharge on income-tax- The amount of income-tax shall be increased by a surcharge for the purposes of the Union,- (a) in the case of every individual or Hindu undivided family or every association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Act, at the rate of fifteen per cent. of such income-tax; and (b) in the case of cooperative societies, firms or local authorities, at the rate of twelve per cent. of such income-tax; having total income exceeding one crore rupees. However, marginal relief shall be allowed in all these cases to ensure that the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. In the case of persons mentioned in (a) and (b) above having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JC of the Act and where such income exceeds one crore rupees, surcharge at the rate mentioned above shall be levied and marginal relief shall also be provided. (c) in the case of a domestic company,- (i) having total income exceeding one crore rupees but not exceeding ten crore rupees, the amount of income-tax computed shall be increased by a surcharge for the purposes of the Union calculated at the rate of seven per cent. of such income tax; (ii) having total income exceeding ten crore rupees, the amount of income-tax computed shall be increased by a surcharge for the purposes of the Union calculated at the rate of twelve per cent. of such income-tax. (d) in the case of a company, other than a domestic company,- (i) having total income exceeding one crore rupees but not exceeding ten crore rupees, the amount of income-tax computed shall be increased by a surcharge for the purposes of the Union calculated at the rate of two per cent. of such income tax; (ii) having total income exceeding ten crore rupees, the amount of income-tax computed shall be increased by a surcharge for the purposes of the Union calculated at the rate of five per cent. of such income tax. However, marginal relief shall be allowed in all these cases to ensure that the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees but not exceeding ten crore rupees, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees, by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. The total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding ten crore rupees, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on a total income of ten crore rupees, by more than the amount of income that exceeds ten crore rupees. Also, in the case of every company having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JB of the Act and where such income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees, or exceeds ten crore rupees, as the case may be, surcharge at the rates mentioned above shall be levied and marginal relief shall also be provided. (e) In other cases (including sections 115-O, 115QA, 115R, 115TA or 115TD), the surcharge shall be levied at the rate of twelve per cent. (2) Education Cess- For assessment year 2017-18, additional surcharge called the Education Cess on income-tax and Secondary and Higher Education Cess on income-tax shall continue to be levied at the rate of two per cent. and one per cent., respectively, on the amount of tax computed, inclusive of surcharge, in all cases. No marginal relief shall be available in respect of such Cesses. II. Rates for deduction of income-tax at source during the financial year 2017-18 from certain incomes other than Salaries . The rates for deduction of income-tax at source during the financial year 2017-18 from certain incomes other than Salaries have been specified in Part II of the First Schedule to the Bill. The rates for all the categories of persons will remain the same as those specified in Part II of the First Schedule to the Finance Act, 2016, for the purposes of deduction of income-tax at source during the financial year 2016-17. (1) Surcharge- The amount of tax so deducted, in the case of a non-resident person (other than a company), shall be increased by a surcharge,- (i) in case of an individual, Hindu undivided family, association of person, body of individual or artificial juridical person; (a) at the rate of ten per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds fifty lakh rupees but does not exceed one crore rupees; (b) at the rate of fifteen per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds one crore rupees; and (ii) in case of a firm or cooperative society, at the rate of twelve per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds one crore rupees. The amount of tax so deducted, in the case of a company other than a domestic company, shall be increased by a surcharge,- (i) at the rate of two per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees; (ii) at the rate of five per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds ten crore rupees. No surcharge will be levied on deductions in other cases. (2) Education Cess- Education Cess on income-tax and Secondary and Higher Education Cess on income-tax shall continue to be levied at the rate of two per cent. and one per cent. respectively, of income tax including surcharge wherever applicable, in the cases of persons not resident in India including company other than a domestic company. III. Rates for deduction of income-tax at source from Salaries , computation of advance tax and charging of income-tax in special cases during the financial year 2017-18. The rates for deduction of income-tax at source from Salaries during the financial year 2017-18 and also for computation of advance tax payable during the said year in the case of all categories of assessees have been specified in Part III of the First Schedule to the Bill. These rates are also applicable for charging income-tax during the financial year 2017-18 on current incomes in cases where accelerated assessments have to be made, for instance, provisional assessment of shipping profits arising in India to non-residents, assessment of persons leaving India for good during the financial year, assessment of persons who are likely to transfer property to avoid tax, assessment of bodies formed for a short duration, etc. The salient features of the rates specified in the said Part III are indicated in the following paragraphs- A. Individual, Hindu undivided family, association of persons, body of individuals, artificial juridical person. Paragraph A of Part-III of First Schedule to the Bill provides following rates of income-tax:- (i) The rates of income-tax in the case of every individual (other than those mentioned in (ii) and (iii) below) or Hindu undivided family or every association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Act (not being a case to which any other Paragraph of Part III applies) are as under:- Upto ₹ 2,50,000 Nil. ₹ 2,50,001 to ₹ 5,00,000 5 per cent. ₹ 5,00,001 to ₹ 10,00,000 20 per cent. Above ₹ 10,00,000 30 per cent. (ii) In the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the previous year,- Upto ₹ 3,00,000 Nil. ₹ 3,00,001 to ₹ 5,00,000 5 per cent. ₹ 5,00,001 to ₹ 10,00,000 20 per cent. Above ₹ 10,00,000 30 per cent. (iii) in the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at any time during the previous year,- Upto ₹ 5,00,000 Nil. ₹ 5,00,001 to ₹ 10,00,000 20 per cent. Above ₹ 10,00,000 30 per cent. The amount of income-tax computed in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Paragraph shall be increased by a surcharge at the rate of,- (i) ten per cent. of such income-tax in case of a person having a total income exceeding fifty lakh rupees but not exceeding one crore rupees; and (ii) fifteen per cent. of such income-tax in case of a person having a total income exceeding one crore rupees. However, in case of (i) above, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding fifty lakh rupees but not exceeding one crore rupees, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on such income shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of fifty lakh rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds fifty lakh rupees. Further, in case of (ii) above, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. B. Co-operative Societies In the case of co-operative societies, the rates of income-tax have been specified in Paragraph B of Part III of the First Schedule to the Bill. These rates will continue to be the same as those specified for financial year 2016-17. The amount of income-tax shall be increased by a surcharge at the rate of twelve per cent. of such income-tax in case of a co-operative society having a total income exceeding one crore rupees. However, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. C. Firms In the case of firms, the rate of income-tax has been specified in Paragraph C of Part III of the First Schedule to the Bill. This rate will continue to be the same as that specified for financial year 2016-17. The amount of income-tax shall be increased by a surcharge at the rate of twelve per cent. of such income-tax in case of a firm having a total income exceeding one crore rupees. However, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. D. Local authorities The rate of income-tax in the case of every local authority has been specified in Paragraph D of Part III of the First Schedule to the Bill. This rate will continue to be the same as that specified for the financial year 2016-17. The amount of income-tax shall be increased by a surcharge at the rate of twelve per cent. of such income-tax in case of a local authority having a total income exceeding one crore rupees. However, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. E. Companies The rates of income-tax in the case of companies have been specified in Paragraph E of Part III of the First Schedule to the Bill. In case of domestic company, the rate of income-tax shall be twenty five per cent. of the total income if the total turnover or gross receipts of the previous year 2015-16 does not exceed fifty crore rupees and in all other cases the rate of Income-tax shall be thirty per cent. of the total income. In the case of company other than domestic company, the rates of tax are the same as those specified for the financial year 2016-17. Surcharge at the rate of seven per cent shall continue to be levied in case of a domestic company if the total income of the domestic company exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees. Surcharge at the rate of twelve per cent shall continue to be levied if the total income of the domestic company exceeds ten crore rupees. In case of companies other than domestic companies, the existing surcharge of two per cent. shall continue to be levied if the total income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees. Surcharge at the rate of five per cent shall continue to be levied if the total income of the company other than domestic company exceeds ten crore rupees. However, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees but not exceeding ten crore rupees, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees, by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. The total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding ten crore rupees, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on a total income of ten crore rupees, by more than the amount of income that exceeds ten crore rupees. In other cases (including sections 115-O, 115QA, 115R, 115TA or 115TD), the surcharge shall be levied at the rate of twelve per cent. For financial year 2017-18, additional surcharge called the Education Cess on income-tax and Secondary and Higher Education Cess on income-tax shall continue to be levied at the rate of two per cent. and one per cent. respectively, on the amount of tax computed, inclusive of surcharge (wherever applicable), in all cases. No marginal relief shall be available in respect of such Cesses. [Clause 2 First Schedule]