compliance costs

Two major tax reforms due by next year promise to reduce transaction costs for exporters significantly. A simpler income-tax regime will put more money in the hands of businesses, which can invest these as they consider best. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime will reduce complications and lower the compliance costs. Together, they will help Indian businesses get more competitive. Full Article

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs is all set to introduce a governance code for unlisted companies on the lines of the one for listed firms to encourage more companies to register on the stock exchanges. Elaborate disclosures and compliance with governance code is seen as one big reason why many companies do not want to raise public funds and list on exchanges. Full Article

As you may be aware, the Finance Act, 2007 amended the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 to provide that employers will be liable to pay FBT (fringe benefit tax) on the value of ESOPs granted to employees as and when the ESOPs were allotted or transferred to the employees. The value of ESOPs for the purposes of levy of FBT shall be the FMV (fair market value) of the ESOPs on the date of vesting of the options as reduced by the amount actually paid, or recovered from.. Full Article