Govt moots lower corporate tax at 25% for new manufacturing units

New Delhi: The government Monday lowered the corporate tax for new manufacturing units at 25 percent with a view to promote industrial activity and generate jobs.

With regard to small units having a turnover of Rs 5 crore, the corporate tax rate has been reduced from 30 percent to 29 percent, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Budget 2016-17 tabled in the Lok Sabha.

This is a part of exercise to bring down corporate tax rate in a phased manner from the existing 30 percent to 25 percent over a period of four years beginning next fiscal.

"In the first phase, I propose following two changes in the corporate tax rate," he said.

"The new manufacturing companies which are incorporated on or after March 1, 2016 as proposed to be given an option of being taxed at 25 percent plus surcharge plus cess provided they don't claim any profit link, investment link deduction and don't claim any investment allowance at accelerated depreciation," he said.

This will help incentivise setting up of new manufacturing units and generate employment.

"I also propose to lower the corporate income tax rate for next financial year for relatively small enterprise companies with a turnover not exceeding 5 crore to 29 percent plus surcharge plus cess," he said.