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Home e-Newsletters Index Year 2016 June Day 16 - Thursday

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TMI Tax Updates - e-Newsletter
June 16, 2016

Case Laws in this Newsletter:

Income Tax Corporate Laws Central Excise Indian Laws



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Articles

1. Draft Model GST Law on public domain

   By: Bimal jain

Summary: The Draft Model GST Law was released to the public as part of India's significant tax reform, aiming to consolidate multiple layers of indirect taxation into a single Goods and Services Tax (GST). This destination-based consumption tax will impact various business operations, including tax structure and compliance systems. The draft outlines key provisions such as definitions, supply scope, input tax credit schemes, and transitional provisions. It sets registration thresholds and details the GST framework's application to inter-State supplies. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback to refine the law before its anticipated implementation on April 1, 2017.


News

1. Change in Tariff Value of Crude Palm Oil, RBD Palm Oil, others – Palm Oil, Crude Palmolein, RBD Palmolein, others – Palmolein, Crude Soyabean Oil, Brass Scrap (All Grades), Poppy Seeds, Areca Nuts, Gold and Silver Notified

Summary: The Central Board of Excise and Customs has amended the tariff values for various commodities under the Customs Act, 1962. The updated tariff values are as follows: Crude Palm Oil at $710 per metric tonne, RBD Palm Oil at $716, and Crude Palmolein at $724. Crude Soyabean Oil is set at $800, Brass Scrap at $2933, and Poppy Seeds at $2533 per metric tonne. Gold is valued at $418 per 10 grams and Silver at $562 per kilogram. Areca Nuts have a tariff value of $2630 per metric tonne. These changes are effective as per the latest notification.

2. Border trade crucial for India’s ‘Act East’ policy says Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, as India focuses on Myanmar

Summary: India's Commerce Secretary emphasized the importance of enhancing border trade with Myanmar to support India's 'Act East' policy. A study by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and RIS outlines strategies for boosting trade through land borders, highlighting Myanmar's strategic position. The shift from barter to normal trade and the removal of restricted items list are key developments. Investment in infrastructure and employment generation in border areas are crucial for development. The study suggests a framework for peace and prosperity, advocating for border haats to facilitate local trade and people-to-people connections. Ten locations have been agreed upon for these markets.

3. Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sector

Summary: The Union Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, has approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India and the India Taipei Association in Taiwan. This agreement focuses on cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, including horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, aquaculture, food processing, genetic resources, and environmental sustainability. It encourages private sector collaboration, exchange of visits, information, technology, and training, and aims to expand agricultural trade while reducing barriers. A Joint Working Committee will oversee priority areas and implementation. The MoU is valid for five years, with automatic renewal unless terminated by either party.

4. Cabinet approves disinvestment of 10% paid up equity of Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO)

Summary: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by the Prime Minister, has approved the disinvestment of 10% of the paid-up equity of Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO) through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the domestic market. Currently, the Government of India holds 100% of HUDCO's equity, with the company's paid-up equity capital at Rs. 2001.90 crore and a net worth of approximately Rs. 7,800 crore. Established in 1970, HUDCO is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, focusing on financing housing and urban development projects.

5. Comments and suggestions of stakeholders invited on relevant issues arising out of amendment to India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention for consideration by the Working Group constituted for the purpose

Summary: A Working Group led by the Joint Secretary of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has been formed to examine issues stemming from amendments to the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention. This group includes departmental officers and representatives from SEBI, custodians, brokerage firms, and fund managers. Stakeholders are invited to submit their comments and suggestions on these issues electronically by July 4, 2016, for the group's consideration.

6. RBI Reference Rate for US $

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India set the reference rate for the US Dollar at Rs. 67.1596 on June 15, 2016, slightly up from Rs. 67.1520 on June 14, 2016. The exchange rates for the Euro, British Pound, and Japanese Yen against the Rupee were also updated. The Euro was valued at Rs. 75.2859, the British Pound at Rs. 95.1114, and 100 Japanese Yen at Rs. 63.19 on June 15. These rates are determined based on the US Dollar reference rate and the middle rates of cross-currency quotes.


Notifications

Central Excise

1. 25/2016 - dated 14-6-2016 - CE

Seeks to further amend notification No.67/95-Central Excises dated 16.03.1995

Summary: The Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance, has issued Notification No. 25/2016 - Central Excise, amending Notification No. 67/95-Central Excises dated March 16, 1995. This amendment, effective from June 14, 2016, involves substituting the term "Free Trade Zone" with "Special Economic Zone" in the proviso, item (i) of the original notification. This change is enacted under the Central Excise Act, 1944, and the Additional Duties of Excise (Goods of Special Importance) Act, 1957, in the public interest. The principal notification had last been amended on July 11, 2014.

2. 24/2016 - dated 14-6-2016 - CE

Seeks to further amend notification No.214/86-Central Excises dated 25.03.1986

Summary: The Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance, has issued Notification No. 24/2016 - Central Excise, amending Notification No. 214/86-Central Excises dated March 25, 1986. The amendment replaces the term "free trade zone" with "Special Economic Zone" in the original notification. This change is made under the authority of the Central Excise Act, 1944, the Additional Duties of Excise Act, 1957, and the Finance Act, 2001, as the government deems it necessary in the public interest. The principal notification was last amended on December 30, 2006.

Customs

3. 86/2016 - dated 15-6-2016 - Cus (NT)

Tariff Notification in respect of Fixation of Tariff Value of Edible Oils, Brass Scrap, Poppy Seeds, Gold and Sliver

Summary: The Government of India, through the Central Board of Excise and Customs, has issued Notification No. 86/2016-CUSTOMS (N.T.) dated June 15, 2016, amending the tariff values for certain goods under the Customs Act, 1962. The revised tariff values are specified for various commodities including crude palm oil, RBD palm oil, crude palmolein, RBD palmolein, crude soybean oil, brass scrap, poppy seeds, gold, silver, and areca nuts. These adjustments are made in accordance with the powers conferred by the relevant sections of the Customs Act, reflecting necessary updates to the existing notification No. 36/2001-Customs (N.T.).

4. 84/2016 - dated 14-6-2016 - Cus (NT)

Appoints the Additional Director General(Adjudication), Delhi

Summary: The Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance's Department of Revenue, issued Notification No. 84/2016-Customs (N.T.) on June 14, 2016. This notification appoints the Additional Director General (Adjudication) of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Delhi as the Common Adjudicating Authority. This role involves exercising powers and duties concerning specific officers for adjudicating show cause notices issued to various entities, including M/s Vintron Industries Ltd., New Delhi. The notices pertain to cases under the jurisdiction of the Collectors of Customs in Calcutta, New Delhi, and Delhi, as specified in the notification.


Circulars / Instructions / Orders

Income Tax

1. Press Release - dated 13-6-2016

India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and related issues - Working Group to examine consequential issues arising out of amendment

Summary: A Working Group has been established by the Government of India to address issues arising from amendments to the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The group, led by a Joint Secretary from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), includes departmental officers and representatives from SEBI, custodians, brokerage firms, and fund managers. Its mandate is to examine the relevant issues and submit a report to the CBDT within three months.

Customs

2. 28/2016 - dated 14-6-2016

Single Window Project - Simplification of procedure in SWIFT for clearance of consignments related to drugs & cosmetics

Summary: The Indian Customs Single Window Project, operational since April 1, 2016, streamlines the clearance process for imports and exports by allowing electronic lodging of documents at a single point. This system integrates various regulatory agencies, reducing the need for importers and exporters to approach them individually. However, issues have arisen concerning the import of drugs, cosmetics, and medical equipment. To address these, procedures for clearance have been simplified, including categorizing certain chemicals as non-drugs, easing the process for dual-use items, and reducing unnecessary sample testing. Importers must accurately declare product details and intended use to ensure smooth regulatory clearance.

Central Excise

3. 1031/19/2016-CX - dated 14-6-2016

Levy of excise duty on readymade garments and made articles of textiles bearing a brand name or sold under a brand name and having a retail sale price of ₹ 1000 or more

Summary: The circular addresses the levy of excise duty on readymade garments and textile articles sold under a brand name with a retail price of Rs. 1000 or more. It clarifies that excise duty applies only to branded items priced above Rs. 1000, and affixing a brand name or repackaging constitutes manufacture. Retailers are exempt if the retail price is below Rs. 1000 or if their annual clearance value is under Rs. 1.5 crore, provided the previous year's clearance was less than Rs. 4 crore. Retail outlets with a name do not automatically incur excise duty unless they brand and label garments. Inspections are restricted to cases with specific duty evasion concerns.


Highlights / Catch Notes

    Income Tax

  • Working Group to Tackle Issues from India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement Amendment, Streamlining Tax Processes.

    Circulars : India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and related issues - Working Group to examine consequential issues arising out of amendment - Circular

  • Tribunal's Decision on Mesne Profits: Uniform Application Required Unless Formally Challenged by Revenue Authorities.

    Case-Laws - HC : Mesne profits - capital or revenue receipt - Once the Special Bench order of the Tribunal in Narang Overseas Pvt. Ltd., [2008 (2) TMI 817 - ITAT MUMBAI] has taken a view on the character of mesne profits, then unless the Revenue challenges the order of the Special Bench of the Tribunal it would be unfair of the Revenue to pick and choose assessees where it would follow the decision of the Special Bench of the Tribunal- HC

  • Penalty Imposed u/s 158BFA(2) for Undisclosed Income Lacks Justification and Calculation Clarity.

    Case-Laws - AT : Levy of penalty u/s 158BFA(2) - penalty has been levied on the amount of undisclosed income without providing any working of maximum and minimum penalty leviable - No penalty - AT

  • Demolition costs for illegal structures are business expenses, even if billed to the architect, say tax authorities.

    Case-Laws - AT : Merely because the receipt for demolition expenses for demolishing the illegal structure on the same piece of land is in the name of the architect, the same cannot be held to be non-business expenses and disallowed by the Revenue - AT

  • Business Losses Can Offset Long-Term Gains and Interest Income u/s 71, Offering Tax Optimization Flexibility.

    Case-Laws - AT : Priority of Adjustment of business loss against the Long Term Capital Gains and interest income - Section 71 does not states that the business loss has to be adjusted first with particular head of income. - AT

  • Taxpayer's Claimed Purchases Deemed Fraudulent After Sellers Admit to Issuing Fake Bills Without Supplying Goods.

    Case-Laws - AT : The parties from whom the assessee has claimed to have purchased goods have admitted before the sales tax authorities that they have given only accommodation bills without actually supplying goods. In our view, this information received by the AO was sufficient to form belief that there was escapement of income - AT

  • Search Notification Insufficient for Satisfaction of Undisclosed Income u/s 158BD of Income Tax Act.

    Case-Laws - AT : AO of the searched person has merely intimated the details of search proceedings to the AO of the assessee and the same, in our considered view, shall not constitute “satisfaction” about “undisclosed income” as contemplated u/s 158BD - AT

  • Taxpayer Entitled to Benefits u/s 112(1)(a) for LTCG on Mutual Fund Sales, Filing Details Not Mandatory.

    Case-Laws - AT : Long Term Capital Gains - sale of mutual fund units of HSBC - options to pay tax on LTCG @20% or 10% with or without indexation - Merely because the assessee has not filed the details of long term capital gain in the return of income, the assessee cannot be denied the benefit of provisions of Section 112(1)(a) - AT

  • Income Tax Appeals Commissioner Sets 2% Commission Rate on Accommodation Entries as Reasonable and Appropriate.

    Case-Laws - AT : Rate of commission on accommodation entries - CIT(A) has applied correct estimate of rate of commission income @2% which is reasonable and appropriate - AT

  • Profit from Selling Agricultural Land Not Automatically Taxable as Trade; Holding Period Crucial in Classification Decision.

    Case-Laws - AT : Sale and purchase of agriculture land - adventure in trade - Merely because of the fact that the land was sold for profit, it cannot be held that income arising from the sale of land was taxable as profit arising from the adventure in the nature of trade. The period of holding should not suggest that the activity was an adventure in the nature of trade. - AT

  • Income Tax Act Section 11 Exemption Upheld for Society Despite Investment in Private Company Shares.

    Case-Laws - AT : Exemption u/s 11 - Investment in shares in a Private Limited Company - The members of the assessee society were the directors only in the representative capacity in the company. Therefore, in the instant case benefit under section 11 of the Act cannot be denied - AT

  • Central Excise

  • Excise duty applies to branded garments priced at Rs. 1000 or more under central excise regulations.

    Circulars : Levy of excise duty on readymade garments and made articles of textiles bearing a brand name or sold under a brand name and having a retail sale price of ₹ 1000 or more - Circular

  • Cenvat Credit Case: Tribunal Overrules Lower Authorities' Decision on Job Work Inputs Due to Non-Compliance with Remand Instructions.

    Case-Laws - AT : Cenvat Credit - sending inputs for job work - As the lower Authorities did not adhere to the remand direction by the Tribunal to the full extent which is basically to find out the correct facts of the case. Any further remand will not serve any purpose. - demand set aside - AT

  • Court Rules on Extended Limitation Period for Goods Clearance to Sister Establishment Without Credit Reversal; No Evidence of Suppression.

    Case-Laws - AT : Extended period of limitation - Clearance of goods to sister establishment - Non reversal of credit on such goods before clearance - it has not been established as to which entry in ER-1 were wrong or erroneous - there is no requirement of the law to submit the Invoices with the department - allegation of suppression of facts cannot sustain - AT

  • Refund Allowed for Cenvat Credit u/r 5 for SEZ Supplies, Overturning Initial Rejection by Lower Authority.

    Case-Laws - AT : Admissibility of refund under Rule 5 of the Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 against the supply of final product to SEZ - lower authority rejected the refund claim of the accumulated Cenvat Credit under Rule 5 on the ground that supplies made to SEZ is a deemed export, not a physical export - Refund allowed - AT


Case Laws:

  • Income Tax

  • 2016 (6) TMI 536
  • 2016 (6) TMI 535
  • 2016 (6) TMI 534
  • 2016 (6) TMI 533
  • 2016 (6) TMI 532
  • 2016 (6) TMI 531
  • 2016 (6) TMI 530
  • 2016 (6) TMI 529
  • 2016 (6) TMI 528
  • 2016 (6) TMI 527
  • 2016 (6) TMI 526
  • 2016 (6) TMI 525
  • 2016 (6) TMI 524
  • 2016 (6) TMI 523
  • 2016 (6) TMI 522
  • 2016 (6) TMI 521
  • 2016 (6) TMI 520
  • 2016 (6) TMI 519
  • 2016 (6) TMI 518
  • 2016 (6) TMI 517
  • Corporate Laws

  • 2016 (6) TMI 538
  • Central Excise

  • 2016 (6) TMI 545
  • 2016 (6) TMI 544
  • 2016 (6) TMI 543
  • 2016 (6) TMI 542
  • 2016 (6) TMI 541
  • 2016 (6) TMI 540
  • 2016 (6) TMI 539
  • Indian Laws

  • 2016 (6) TMI 537
 

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