tax net

The government will mop up Rs 1,400 crore (Rs 14 billion) this fiscal by taxing the second installment of arrears due to central government employees, who were awarded increased salaries by the Sixth Pay Commission. The first installment of arrears (representing 40 per cent of the increased pay) was disbursed during financial year 2008-09. Full Article

After taxing investors for dividend stripping, the Income Tax (I-T) Department is gearing up to tax bonus stripping. Official sources say scrutiny of returns filed by companies, brokers and individuals active in the stock markets and in possession of shares revealed wide use of this mechanism to evade tax. Full Article

Way back on September 25, 2000, Rule 3 governing perquisites (perks) was amended by Notification SO 940(E). The major change brought in was taxing on a 'cost to employer' basis, thereby giving perks the colour and character of salary. This in turn resulted in many employers increasing the salary of the employee instead of granting perks, thereby avoiding the requirement to maintain cumbersome records. Full Article

An Indian company that provides a bank guarantee (BG) against a loan taken by a subsidiary abroad will now have to pay tax here for standing guarantee for its associate, irrespective of whether or not it has received a commission from the latter for the BG. Seven companies which have provided bank guarantees against loans taken by their subsidiaries abroad are already under the tax net of India’s transfer pricing administration, a senior income-tax official said. Full Article

One should not keep any unaccounted or undisclosed money, property or income popularly known as black money. If such a disclosure is made before its detection by the Income Tax Department, the chances of being trapped in a tax raid are minimized. A tax raid may also be conducted against a person in possession of undisclosed income or property not belonging to him but to someone else. It is therefore important for a person who is in possession or in custody of someone els.. Full Article

Cashless hospitalisation schemes offered by health insurers and insurance companies are under the income-tax net.The CBDT has now made it clear that Third Party Administrators (TPAs) must deduct tax at source on payments made to hospitals for settling insurance/medical claims under various schemes including cashless schemes. Full Article

The income-tax department last week sent notices to six Mumbai-based third party administrators (TPAs), who process insurance claims, askingthem to cough up Rs 117 crore for two consecutive financial years, beginning 2008-09. Full Article

Trusts and institutions carrying out charitable activities will face more stringent taxation regime when the new direct taxes code comes into play from April 1, 2011.The new Code will particularly hit non-governmental organisations (NGOs). All NGOs and charitable trusts registered with the Tax Department may be required to fork out 15 per cent tax on [...] Full Article