Lower rate of tax on dividends received from foreign companies
Section 115BBD of Income Tax Act (the Act) provides for taxation of gross dividends received by an Indian company from a specified foreign company (in which it has shareholding of 26% or more) at the rate of 15% if such dividend is included in the total income for the Financial Year 2011-12 i.e. Assessment Year 2012-13.
The above provision was introduced as an incentive for attracting repatriation of income earned by residents from investments made abroad with certain conditions to check the misuse of the incentive.
In order to continue these provisions for one more year, it is proposed to amend section 115BBD to extend the applicability of this section in respect of income by way of certain foreign dividends received in Financial Year 2012-13 also, subject to the same conditions.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2013 and shall apply to the Assessment year 2013-14.
