Thursday, February 28, 2013

HIDDEN PROPOSALS IN BUDGET 2013-14

Hidden proposal I --in Income Tax Act 1961 by Finance Bill 2013

Under the existing provisions of section 56, the transfer of immoveable properties (stamp value of which exceeds Rs.50,000) without consideration is treated as income in the hands of recipient but transfer of such property for inadequate consideration is outside the ambit of such provisions.
It is now proposed that if the consideration for transfer of such property is less than the stamp duty value of the property by an amount exceeding Rs.50,000/-then the difference between the stamp duty value and the stated consideration shall be treated as income of the recipient.
For example, the stamp duty value of the property is one lakh while the consideration for transfer is Rs.30,000/-. The difference of Rs.70,000/- shall be deemed income of the recipient.
However, it is also proposed that where the date of agreement and date of registering the document is different then, stamp duty value would be taken as on the date of agreement provided such consideration or part thereof had been paid by any mode other than cash on or before the date of agreement.
Necessary amendment is being proposed in section 56.


Hidden proposal II --in Income Tax Act 1961 by Finance Bill 2013

Agricultural income & capital gain on agricultural land:

under the existing provisions, the distance from the limits of the municipality is to be measured by road. It is now proposed that distance is to be measured aerially. How the aerial distance will be calculated is not prescribed.
Further, under the proposed amendment, the distance from the municipality shall now be 2 KM from the local limits of municipality having population of more than 10000 but not exceeding one lakh; 6 KM from the local limits of municipality having population of more than one lakh but not exceeding ten lakhs; and 8 KM from the local limits of municipality having population of more than 10 lakhs.
(The necessary amendments have been made in sections 2(1A) & 2(14))



Hidden proposal III --in Income Tax Act 1961 by Finance Bill 2013

Under the existing provisions, the provisions of section 50C are applicable only to the transfer of capital assets. Such provisions are not applicable to sale or transfer of immoveable properties by a person engaged in the business of real estate.
It is now proposed to insert section 43CA, similar to section 50C, so as to apply such deeming provisions to the transactions of transfer of immoveable properties by a person engaged in the business of real estate. For example, if the builder transfers a flat to the buyer at a consideration of Rs.30 lakhs but value for the purpose of stamp duty is taken at Rs.35 lakhs then, the profit of the builder shall be computed as if the sale consideration is Rs.35 lakhs.
It is also proposed that the existing provisions of section 50C(2) will apply to such transactions also.
However, it is also proposed that where the date of agreement and date of registering the document is different then, stamp duty value would be taken as on the date of agreement provided such consideration or part thereof had been paid by any mode other than cash on or before the date of agreement.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

HIGHLIGHTS BUDGET 2013-14 INDIRECT TAXES


Indirect Taxes
1. Service Tax on AC Restaurants
2. 2% customs, CVD on coal imports
3.  Excise duty raised by18% for cigarettes
4.  Cut abatement rate on expensive homes to 75%
5.  Customs duty unchanged for non agri products
6.  Extend tax benefit to electrical vehicles
7.  Excise duty on SUVs raised from 27% to 30%. Will not apply to SUVs registered as taxis
8.  Amnesty Scheme for Service Tax Defaulters
9.  Exempts imported ships and vessels from duty
10.  Excise Duty cut on leather, leather good machines
11.  No Change in Normal Rate of Service Tax & Excise Duty
12.  Import Duty Hiked on Set top boxes

HIGHLIGHTS OF BUDGET 2013-14 DIRCT TAXES

1 Tax credit of '2,000 for income up to '5 lakh:  
2 Additional surcharge on taxes only for 1 year:  
3 To continue with education cess at 3%:  
4 10% surcharge on companies with income over '10 cr:  
5 DDT surcharge raised to 10% from 5%:  
6 Extend 80IA by 1 year:  
7 Tax holiday for power plants extended to March 2014:  
8 15% tax on dividend from overseas arms to continue:  
9 FY14 fiscal deficit seen at 4.8% vs 5.2% in FY13:  
10 TDS at 1% of land deals over '50 lakh:  
11 To reduce STT on equity futures, MF units:  
12 Agri commodities to be exempt from CTT:  
13 To introduce CTT on non agri futures contracts at 0.1%:  
14 To incorporate decisions on GAAR:  
15 STT reduced from 0.17% to 0.1%:  
16 DTC is work in progress:  

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

MCA Site not Working –What to do?


MCA has kept entire corporate on hold. New companies are not incorporating and existing companies can’t file their returns due. On 17 January 2013, MCA changed its drivers of site. Earlier TCS use to manage MCA21, not batten has been passed to Infosys. The site is under transitional stage and hence some problems are bound to occur. We don’t blame MCA for it, because MCA21 has drastically improved filling and compliance in India. It’s a e-governance project, which the government can definitely boast of.
My concern is different. MCA has not given any clarifications waiver of additional fees, whose due date falls between this period. They have extended time limit for filling 23AC/ACA and Cost Compliance Report in xbrl mode. But they have not done the same in case of other forms.
Let us say, if I have changed my registered office on 24 December 2012, I have to file Form 18 latest by 23 January 2013. However, site is non-functional during this time period. Let us assume that site become operational today i.e. 2 February 2013. If I try to upload that form, MCA will demand additional fees.
This is injustice for all corporate. They have been charged additional fees without their fault. MCA should come out with solution to this problem. They must relax due dates of forms which falls due during this transits period. Due date shall be extended to 15 February 2013 or any other reasonable duration for all forms.
MCA shall work out this solution at the earliest in the best interest of stakeholders.