The plain reading of the income tax provisions dealing with determination of residential status of an individual indicates that beneficial provisions relaxing the tax residency will apply to an Indian citizen leaving India for the purpose of employment and not otherwise. In the above case, the AAR has applied the above beneficial provisions even in the year when the individual returns back to India.
The Finance (No.2) Act of 2009 introduced section 206AA under the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the ITA) to provide that any person who is entitled to receive any sum or income or amount, on which tax is to be withheld under the ITA shall furnish PAN to the person responsible for withholding of tax. In case PAN is not furnished, minimum withholding tax rate of 20% will have to be applied. This provision is now effective from1 April 2010.
The Interest Tax Act, 1974 specifically includes discounting charges in the definition of interest, however interest defined under ITA does not include discounting charges. Wherever the legislature was conscious of the fact that even the discount of bills of exchange is to be included within the definition of interest, the same was basically so provided for, hence the omission of these words in the definition provided under the ITA, enumerates the intention of the legislator to keep the same out of the ambit of „interest? under the ITA. The same rationale is also laid down in the Circular no. 652 issued by Central Board of Direct Taxes in relation to section 1 94A of ITA.
This is yet another decision on the issue of whether the deputation of personnel by an overseas entity results in Permanent Establishment in India and the related attribution of profit and withholding tax issues.
The decision of tribunal reaffirms the position that after amendment to section 9 of the Act, what is required is that, the services should be utilized in India in order to be taxable in India irrespective of the situs of rendering of the services.
Prudential Assurance Company Ltd. (Prudential) is a foreign company incorporated in United Kingdom and is engaged in the business of Insurance. Prudential registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India as a sub-account of a Foreign Institutional Investor (FII).
The High court agreed with the position taken by the appellate authorities that the security deposit did not constitute a loan since it was paid to the respondent in his capacity as the owner of the accommodation and in pursuance of a lease agreement. Further, the court agreed with the observation of the ITAT that the respondent did not get undue benefit / advantage as the terms of the lease were similar to the earlier agreement though he had not received the additional guarantee.
The guidelines issued on 26 April 2010 are measures taken by the Government to counter the adverse effects of the employment visa notification of December 2009. In terms of the new guidelines, E-visa applications sponsored by qualifying Indian IT companies will be processed by the Indian missions abroad and will not be subjected to any quota restrictions.
The Tribunal has held that a simple maintenance of stock of goods by the foreign enterprise at the customer?s location for standby use may not constitute a PE, while keeping the issue open with regard to royalty on use of equipment.
The draft Direct Taxes Code (DTC) along with a Discussion Paper was released on 12 August 2009 for public comments with the intention to simplify direct tax legislation in India. Subsequently, comments were solicited from the public and examined by the Government. A Revised Discussion Paper which is meant to respond to the major concerns and comments of stakeholders has now been released on 15 June 2010.
