While mutual funds provide a safe and desirable mode of investment for retail investors, they have not grown much due to lack of infrastructure on one hand and poor return to investors vis-à-vis their expectations. Mutual funds in India suffer from inadequate and non- expert distribution network as required, lack of penetration of products, lacunas in regulation of distribution network etc, besides investor protection issues.
With Service Tax regime migrating to negative list approach w.e.f. July 1, 2012, almost all the services except those in negative list (section 66D) and exempted services (Notification No. 25 2012-ST dated 20.06.2012) have become exigible to service tax .
New investment in equity shares of companies which comes through primary market is almost nil for last few two years or so. As such while the investors are deprived from investing in primary market, corporate also loose the opportunity to tap the market through public offerings.
On one hand where inflation is not coming under control and on the other, economic slowdown, globally as well as domestically, resulting in curb on income streams, it becomes imperative for people to work out for some additional source of income to either bridge the gap or earn more to continue to live the life as usual. This calls for some extra sources of income over and above regular sources.
Under the new service tax regime, any services not mentioned in the negative list will be subjected to Service Tax, if not otherwise exempt. If services are provided against a portion of the salary foregone by the staff, then it will be considered as having been made for a consideration and thus liable to tax.
India has migrated to new regime of Service Tax w.e.f. July 1, 2012 where in all services, except negative list of services and exempted services are liable to suffer Service Tax @ 12.36 percent. While the government expects over 125 lakh crore rupees from Service Tax in current fiscal, it appears that the task may be achieved easily but at the cost of rising disputes and confusion.
July is the month when most of us in the tax bracket need to file income tax returns, more so in case of individual assessees and where audit is not required. 31st July is the last date for filing income tax returns by all individuals, firms, HUFs, etc. whose books of accounts are not subject to audit under any law including income tax. This generally covers all individual assessees including salaried persons, professionals etc.
The consumption of services in India has become costlier w.e.f. 1.7.2012. The services which were hitherto not taxable at all are into tax net now. Those which were taxed earlier have a larger scope or are taxed with lesser exemptions. The valuation norms have been made tougher so that Service Tax is levied on gross value of service which will include even non monetary consideration.
Economic slow down is ruling the world today, including India. While slow down brings with it retardation in economic growth, lower investments, increase in prices, lesser demand & production and reduced employment opportunities, the current slow down comes with tagged inflation which is persistent and long over due for correction), weakened rupee as against dollar with 10% impact in last one month alone negligible fresh investment in core sectors, enhanced tax rates and interest rates etc. Added to this is the lull in capital market with no activity in primary market and a not so buoyant stock market, though the market saw a rise in last few trading sessions.
For those of readers who do not know the status of Budget proposals, let me update that the Finance Bill, 2012 proposals have become statutory provisions now and the bill has become Finance Act, 2012 with President of India signing the same on 28th May, 2012. Thus, most of the changed provisions in income tax and Excise / Service Tax have become applicable.
