Service tax payable by builders – Composition scheme of 25% available to builders done away with?: As per Rule 2A of Service Tax (Determination of Value) Rules, as amended on 17-3-2012 composition scheme of payment of tax @ 25% on value of works contract of construction available to builder, where the total amount charged includes value of land. This rule is amended on 6-6-2012, which is to be effective from 1-7-2012, and provision relating to tax @ 25% of gross value has been deleted. It will be a big blow to builders. Service tax payable on flats will go up considerably.

It is proposed to amend the provisions of section 55A of the Income-tax Act to enable the Assessing Officer to make a reference to the Valuation Officer where in his opinion the value declared by the assessee is at variance from the fair market value. Therefore, in case where the Assessing Officer is of the opinion that the value taken by the assessee as on 1.4.1981 is higher than the fair market value of the asset as on that date, the Assessing Officer would be enabled to make a reference

at page 20 of the Gazette Notification, in sixth line of clause (B) of sub-rule 2, for “amount attributable to official use of the vehicle provided that the following conditions are fulfilled”, read “amount of charges met or reimbursed by the employer as reduced by such higher amount attributable to official use of the vehicle provided that the following conditions are fulfilled ”,

The fringe benefit tax (FBT) was strongly opposed by India Inc, but there is no doubt that it was beneficial to the employees — they did not have to directly bear the tax on many perquisites. The repeal of FBT meant uncertainty on taxation of perks. Thankfully, there are few changes to the valuation rules when compared to the rules that existed prior to the introduction of FBT.

It’s not going to be easy for small and unlisted companies to issue employees stock options schemes (ESOPs) as per the latest Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) rules for valuation of perquisites. The valuation rules for calculating the fair market value of shares allotted to employees is substantially the same as compared to the fringe benefit tax (FBT) regime. “Employers once again have to obtain a valuation from a Category 1 merchant banker to determine the fair market value of the shares for unlisted companies.

The salaried class, reeling under the inflationary pressures, has suffered yet another setback this holiday season with the announcement of new perquisite valuation rules by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on December 18. The new rules have come in the wake of the abolishment of fringe benefit tax (FBT) by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in this year’s Budget and will be applicable retrospectively from April 1, 2009.

Valuation of Perquisites under Rule 3 of Income Tax Rule 1962 read with sub section 2 of section 17 of Income Tax Act, 1961 (As Revised wide Income Tax (Thirteenth Amendment) Rules. 2009). The Finance (No. 2) Act, 2009, has withdrawn the levy of Fringe Benefit Tax (“FBT”) on expenditure incurred by an employer on or after 1 April 2009. Consequently, by an employee benefits which were subject to FBT have been brought back within the ambit of perquisites and taxable in the hands of employees from the financial year (“F.Y.”) 2009-10 onwards.

For the sake of convenience, the attached tables summarises the valuation rules for all perquisites prescribed in the new rule 3 except the valuation of perquisites in respect of accommodation, motor car and ESOP which are mentioned separately by us and link for the same is been given below . It may be noted that for most perquisites the valuation rules which were contained in the old Rule 3 (as it applied to those employees who, or to items of perquisites which, were not subject to FBT) have remained unchanged. 1. New Perquisite rules in respect of accommodation / house property provided by employer including accommodation in hotel.2. New rules for valuation of perquisites for use of motor car by staff for personal use – provided by employer.3. Valuation of perquisites in respect of employee stock option (ESOP) for the financial year 2009-2010.

The perquisites value of a motor car provided by an employer both for official and personal use has been enhanced by Rs. 600 to 800 per month depending on the engine capacity of the car. Also, the perquisites valuation for employer-provided chauffeur in such cases has been increased from Rs. 600 per month to Rs. 900 per month.

The much awaited new rules have now been notified by The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) vide Notification dated 18 December 2009. The amended provisions will be retrospectively effective from 1 April 2009 onwards. The new valuation rules as prescribed by CBDT and the comparative analysis with the earlier perquisite rules (Rule 3) have in respect of accommodation provided by employer including in respect of accommodation in hotels is tabulated as under: