Minimum Alternate Tax :- Under the existing provisions of section 115JB(1), a company is required to pay a minimum alternate tax (MAT) on its book profit, if the income-tax payable on the total income, as computed under the Act in respect of any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after 1st April, 2011, is less than the MAT. The amount of tax paid under the said section is allowed to be carried forward and set off against tax payable up to the tenth assessment year immediately succeeding the assessment year in which the tax credit becomes allowable under the provisions of section 115JAA.
It is proposed to amend this section to increase the rate of MAT to eighteen and one-half per cent. from the existing rate of eighteen per cent. of such book profit.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2012 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2012-13 and subsequent years.
