Budget 2017 – Changes in TDS Provisions
1.Deduction of tax at source in the case of certain Individuals and Hindu undivided family
The existing provisions of section 194-I of the Act, inter alia, provide for deduction of tax at source at the time of credit or payment of rent to the account of the payee beyond a threshold limit. It is further provide that an Individual or a Hindu undivided family who is liable for tax audit under section 44AB for any financial year immediately preceding the financial year in which such income by way of rent is credited or paid shall be required to deduction of tax at source under this section.
Therefore, under the existing provisions of the aforesaid section, an Individual and HUF, being a payer (other than those liable for tax audit) are out of the scope of section 194-I of the Act.
In order to widen the scope of tax deduction at source, it is proposed to insert a new section 194-IB in the Act to provide that Individuals or a HUF (other than those covered under 44AB of the Act), responsible for paying to a resident any income by way of rent exceeding fifty thousand rupees for a month or part of month during the previous year, shall deduct an amount equal to five per cent. of such income as income-tax thereon.
It is further proposed that tax shall be deducted on such income at the time of credit of rent, for the last month of the previous year or the last month of tenancy if the property is vacated during the year, as the case may be, to the account of the payee or at the time of payment thereof in cash or by issue of a cheque or draft or by any other mode, whichever is earlier.
In order to reduce the compliance burden, it is further proposed that the deductor shall not be required to obtain tax deduction account number (TAN) as per section 203A of the Act. It is also proposed that the deductor shall be liable to deduct tax only once in a previous year.
It is also proposed to provide that where the tax is required to be deducted as per the provisions of section 206AA, such deduction shall not exceed the amount of rent payable for the last month of the previous year or the last month of the tenancy, as the case may be.
This amendment will take effect from 1st June, 2017.
2.Extension of eligible period of concessional tax rate on interest in case of External Commercial Borrowing and Extension of benefit to Rupee Denominated Bonds
The existing provisions of section 194LC of the Act provide that the interest payable to a non-resident by a specified company on borrowings made by it in foreign currency from sources outside India under a loan agreement or by way of issue of any long-term bond including long-term infrastructure bond shall be eligible for concessional TDS of five per cent.
It further provides that the borrowings shall be made, under a loan agreement at any time on or after the 1st July, 2012, but before the 1st July, 2017; or by way of any long-term bond including long-term infrastructure bond on or after the 1st October, 2014 but before the 1st July, 2017, respectively.
Representations have been received requesting for extension of concessional rate of TDS under sections 194LC of the Act to boost the economy by way of introduction of foreign capital.
Therefore, it is proposed to amend section 194LC to provide that the concessional rate of five per cent. TDS on interest payment under this section will now be available in respect of borrowings made before the 1st July, 2020.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years.
Further, consequent upon demand from various stakeholders for granting benefit of lower rate of TDS to rupee denominated bonds, a Press Release dated 29th October, 2015 was issued clarifying that TDS at the rate of 5 per cent would be applicable to these bonds in the same way as it is applicable for off-shore dollar denominated bonds.
In order to give effect to the above, it is further proposed to extend the benefit of section 194LC to rupee denominated bond issued outside India before the 1st July, 2020.
This amendment will take effect retrospectively from 1st April, 2016 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2016-17 and subsequent years.
3.Extension of eligible period of concessional tax rate under section 194LD
The existing provisions of section 194LD of the Act, provides for lower TDS at the rate of five per cent. in the case of interest payable at any time on or after 1st June, 2013 bue before the 1st July, 2017 to FIIs and QFIs on their investments in Government securities and rupee denominated corporate bonds provided that the rate of interest does not exceed the rate notified by the Central Government in this behalf.
Considering the representations received from stakeholders, it is proposed to amend section 194LD to provide that the concessional rate of five per cent. TDS on interest will now be available on interest payable before the 1st July, 2020.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years
4.Simplification of the provisions of tax deduction at source in case Fees for professional or technical services under section 194J
The existing provisions of sub-section (1) of section 194J of the Act, inter-alia provides that a specified person is required to deduct an amount equal to ten per cent. of any sum payable or paid ( whichever is earlier) to a resident by way of fees for professional services or fees for technical services provided such sum paid/payable or aggregate of sum paid/payable exceeds thirty thousand rupees to a person in a financial year.
In order to promote ease of doing business, it is proposed to amend section 194J to reduce the rate of deduction of tax at source to two per cent. from ten per cent. in case of payments received or credited to a payee, being a person engaged only in the business of operation of call center.
This amendment will take effect from the 1st day of June, 2017.
Source: TDS Man
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