finance ministry official

The government is likely to extend the 2 per cent interest subsidy given to exporters on rupee export credit from March 31 to December 2010. The announcement is expected in the upcoming Budget. Although India's exports have started growing again after several months of decline, commerce ministry sources told that the extension is being considered to sustain growth and stabilise it at 15 to 20 per cent. Full Article

One of the most favoured duty reimbursement schemes among exporters — the Duty Entitlement Passbook (DEPB) scheme — is likely to be scrapped, as the government gears up to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April 1. The scheme, which was extended till December 31 in the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014, is widely viewed as one of the best incentive schemes by exporters. Full Article

The government is planning to tighten norms governing FDI through partly-paid shares, convertible warrants and units issued by venture capital funds (VCFs), as it looks to prevent misuse of these popular instruments. The finance ministry and the department of industrial policy & promotion (DIPP) have decided that the conditions such as sectoral ceilings, minimum-capitalisation and lock-in period governing foreign investment through equity should be applicable to these in.. Full Article

Income Tax authorities are planning to broaden the tax base, seek greater exchange of information under the tax treaties and provide better services to tax payers by 2020 when the direct tax reforms would be firmly in place. The apex direct tax body, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), has formed seven committees comprising senior revenue officials to come out with a draft Vision 2020 document that would delineate ways to increase tax collections in a non-intrusive man.. Full Article

The government’s tax collections could take a Rs 10,000-crore hit this year due to the setting up of the income-tax dispute resolution panel (DRP) for settling transfer pricing disputes. Such a dispute arises when there is a disagreement between the government and the taxpayer, especially a foreign company, in determining the tax liability of its subsidiary. Full Article

The government has decided to shelve the introduction of the unique transaction number, which tax payers need to quote along with permanent account number when tax is deducted/collected at source.The scheme was to have come into force from the new year. However, the finance ministry has not ruled out the possibility of introducing a new identity number like UTN from the next fiscal, in addition to the permanent account number to ensure prompt verification and granting of.. Full Article

India may move to a dual Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime next year, but the Cenvat (excise duty) related exemptions, especially area-based ones, will not be withdrawn at one go for ushering in the new tax system. The Finance Ministry is not in favour of doing away with all the Central excise exemptions, numbering about 330, as part of the switchover to the GST regime. Full Article

The government has decided to crackdown on corporate and individuals that have defaulted on payment of their self-assessment in the year in a bid to boost direct tax collections that are well below the target for the year. Direct tax collections need to grow at 18% over the remaining five months of the fiscal 2009-10 ending March 2010 for the government to achieve its direct tax target for the year. Full Article