STT

The Finance Ministry is likely to reduce Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on equity trade in the forthcoming Budget in a bid to boost the capital market despite pressure to improve revenue collection. The ministry, however, may not revisit the issue of Commodities Transaction Tax (CTT), which was aborted in 2009 after protests by industry, sources said, adding that the government is keen to go ahead with the broader policy of reducing the cost of financial transactions. Full Article

The government has no proposal to lower the securities transaction tax (STT) for capital market transactions, SS Palanimanickam, Minister of State for Finance, told lawmakers. Traders have been lobbying for reducing the securities transaction tax, arguing that the move will help revive the lacklustre stock markets. Full Article

The revenue department is opposed to abolition of Securities Transaction Tax (STT) as the levy helps keep a tab on investments in markets and track flow of unaccounted funds. STT helps in overall regulation and keep a check on cost involved. The stock exchanges have been asking the Finance Ministry to abolish STT arguing that such a step would help in boosting investments in stock markets and promote equity culture in the country. Full Article

Net direct tax collections during the period April 2010 to January 2011 stood at Rs.3,17,501 crore, up from Rs.2,63,765 crore in the same period last fiscal, registering a growth of 20.37 percent. Growth in Corporate Income Tax was 24.78 percent (R Full Article

The notices have been sent to entities which availed of the rebate against securities transaction tax (STT) to reduce their tax liabilities to zero or pay very low taxes. The broking firms have been asked to pay the difference with an interest rate o Full Article

During the period April-November 2010, net direct tax collections stood at Rs.2,16,628 crore, up from Rs.1,83,822 crore during the same period last fiscal, registering a growth of 17.85 percent and crossing 50 percent of the BE target of Rs.4,30,000 Full Article

Net direct tax collections during the period April-September 2010 stood at Rs.1,81,758 crore, up from Rs.1,52,625 crore in the same period last fiscal, registering a growth of 19.09 percent in H-1 against the Budgeted annual growth target of 13.67 pe Full Article

Net direct tax collections during first four months of the present fiscal (up to July 2010) stood at Rs.85,647 crore, up from Rs.73,990 crore in the same period last fiscal, registering a growth of 15.75 percent. Growth in Corporate Income Tax was 20.95 percent (Rs.51,627 crore as against Rs.42,685 crore), while Personal Income Tax (including STT, and residual FBT and BCTT) grew at 8.51 percent (Rs.33,940 crore as against Rs.31,279 crore). Full Article