norms

Interest rates may remain soft even if the central bank were to withdraw its accommodating stance and tighten monetary policy, which will be reviewed on Friday. The good news for home loan borrowers is that retail loans are the only form of credit showing some decent growth and bankers are unlikely to jeopardise this demand by raising rates. Corporates, who in any case have not been big borrowers, may also not see an increase in rates as banks have said they are unlikely.. 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

These individuals, according to the RBI, may open, hold and maintain a foreign currency account with a bank outside India and receive the whole salary payable to him for the services rendered to the office/branch/subsidiary/joint venture in India of such foreign company, by credit to such account, provided that income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961, is paid on the entire salary as accrued in India. Full Article

To help special economic zones (SEZs) absorb global economic shocks, the government plans to allow them to make available their excess installed capacities for the use of industrial consumers in the domestic tariff area (DTA). The idea is to ensure that industrial capacities built up in SEZs don’t remain idle in case another global slowdown occurs and dry up export demand. Of course, such contract manufacturing by SEZs would be bereft of any tax relief. Full Article

Relaxation in the norms relating to infrastructure lending and 70 per cent loan loss coverage ratio are likely to top the agenda when bankers meet Reserve Bank of India on January 14, ahead of the quarterly policy review. "Banks will press their demand to relax the norms on infrastructure lending. They may also ask for some easing in the guidelines announced for banks to augment their loan loss coverage ratio to 70 per cent," Indian Banks' Association chief executive, K .. Full Article

In partial modification of paragraph 3 (ii) thereof, it is advised that apart from the documents mentioned therein, any certificate / registration document issued by Sales Tax / Service Tax / Professional Tax authorities may also be considered for verification of the proof of name, address and activity of the Proprietary concern. Full Article

ALL practicing chartered accountants in the country may now have to keep a close tab on their clients, as the accounting rule-maker , the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), is considering a proposal to devise a set of know your customer (KYC) norms to be followed by its members before taking up business. Full Article

A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.18 In terms of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009, all Authorised Persons (APs), authorized under Section 10(1) of FEMA, 1999, have been brought under the purview of PMLA, 2002. Therefore, detailed instructions on Know Your Customer (KYC) norms/ Anti-Money Launderings (AML) standards/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) in respect of cross-border inward.. Full Article