Major changes in tax structure likely in Budget 2017: Report

Mumbai: The much-awaited Union Budget for 2017-18 is expected to bring in some major changes to the tax framework for individuals and corporates following the demonetisation measure, a rating agency said on Monday.

According to Care Ratings, the Budget on February 1 would be addressing issues with respect to "additional revenue garnered on account of the income disclosure scheme as part of the demonetisation drive and expenditure allocations based on the assessment of the economy as there appears to be a slowdown in growth post demonetisation", among others.

"The tax framework would be interesting for individuals and corporates where there are expectations of some major changes following demonetisation," it said in a report.

"The indirect tax structure will be largely on lines with the agreed principles of GST (Goods and Services Tax), which looks likely to be implemented from July 1, 2017."

Care Ratings estimates the Government to levy tax between 12 percent and 18 percent on services, depending on its classification based on essential and non-essential services as a move towards the final GST rate.

On the direct tax front, the rating agency expects the Government to lower the corporate tax rate. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2015 had laid a road map to reduce the tax rate from 30 percent to 25 percent over the next four years.

"This Budget is expected to take the first step in this direction and the rate may be lowered to 27.5 percent with some checks on the exemptions which presently reside in the tax structure."

Moreover, the report said while the Government is expected to reduce the MAT (minimum alternate tax) rate to its initial level of 7.5 percent, it would likely be brought down to 15 percent for the next fiscal.

Observing that the current MAT rate at 18.5 per cent is quite high, the report said the high rate adversely impacts the cash flow of companies that have low taxable income or have incurred losses, among others.

The report noted that going with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement with respect to gains from financial markets to be used for nation building, there could be an "increase in the rate of tax for short term capital gains from 15 per cent to 17.5 percent", for 2017-18.

"Long term capital gains on equity are also on the cards to be bought on par with debt with a three year lock in period."

Besides, the tax exemption slab for individuals could be raised from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh even though the main objective is to expand the tax base, it noted.

On the expenditure side, the revenue expenses in the next fiscal is expected to grow by 10-15 percent from the level of Rs. 17.31 lakh crore in the current financial year on account of increased payments towards higher borrowings, interest rate subventions and implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and OROP Scheme (One Rank One Pension).

However, the report noted this increase in the expenditure heads could be offset to an extent by the lower subsidies on the fertilisers and food.

The budgeted expenditure towards Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) could be increased by 10 percent for 2017-18, Care Ratings said.