CBDT proposes roadmap for elimination of tax exemption

New Delhi: Preparing the ground for gradual reduction of corporate tax to 25 percent from 30 percent, the Finance Ministry today proposed a roadmap for ending various tax exemptions currently enjoyed by the industry.

According to proposal of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), sunset clauses with regards to tax exemptions will be renewed and no weighted deduction will be allowed for any specified business activity from April 1, 2017 onwards.

"The provisions having a sunset date will not be modified to advance the sunset date. Similarly, the sunset dates provided in the Act will not be extended.

"In case of tax incentives with no terminal date, a sunset date of March 31, 2017 will be provided either for commencement of the activity or for claim of benefit depending upon the structure of the relevant provisions of the (Income Tax) Act," the CBDT has proposed.

The sunset clause date of March 31, 2017 will apply on tax exemptions provided for activities concerning infrastructure, special economic zone, commercial production of natural and mineral oil.

Further, CBDT proposed that "profit linked, investment linked and area based deductions will be phased out for both corporate and non-corporate tax payers". The CBDT has invited comments on the proposal in 15 days.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced in his last Budget speech that the rate of corporate tax will be reduced from 30 percent to 25 percent over the next four years along with corresponding phasing out of exemptions and deductions.

This, he had said, was a step towards simplification of tax laws, which is expected to bring about transparency and clarity.

Commenting on the proposal, Amit Maheshwari, Partner, Ashok Maheshwary and Associates said: "Tax reduction would make the headline tax rate competitive vis-a-vis other nations competing for FDI. The tax base is also expected to be widened because of lower tax rate."

Elaborating on the proposed roadmap, CBDT said the depreciation under the Income-tax Act is available up to 100 percent in respect of certain block of assets.

"The highest rate of depreciation under the Income-tax Act is proposed to be reduced to 60 percent (from April 1, 2017). The new rate is proposed to be made applicable to all the assets (whether old or new) falling in the relevant block of assets," it said.

It proposes to do away with 100 percent deduction of capital expenditure on incurred by specified businesses such as laying and operating a cross country natural gas or crude or petroleum oil pipeline network, building hotel, warehousing facility for sugar with effect from April 2017.

The CBDT also proposes to do away with weighted deduction of 150 percent currently given in case of a cold chain facility, warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce, an affordable housing project, production of fertiliser with effect from April 2017.