Budget 2017: Rationalisation of provisions of Section 10AA
Under the existing provisions of the section 10AA, deduction is allowed from the total income of an assessee, in respect of profits and gains from his Unit operating in SEZ, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions.
Section 10AA allows deduction in computing the total income of the assessee, hence the deduction is to be allowed for the total income of the assessee as computed in accordance with the provision of the Act before giving effect to the provisions of section 10AA. However, courts have taken a view (while deciding the matter pertaining to section 10A which also contains similar provision) that the deduction is to be allowed from the total income of the undertaking and not from the total income of the assessee.
In view of the above, it is proposed to clarify that the amount of deduction referred to in section 10AA shall be allowed from the total income of the assessee computed in accordance with the provisions of the Act before giving effect to the provisions of the section 10AA and the deduction under section 10AA in no case shall exceed the said total income.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent assessment years.
[Clause 7]
Extract of relevant clause from Finance Bill, 2017
Amendment of section 10AA.
7. In section 10AA of the Income-tax Act, after sub-section (1), the following Explanation shall be inserted with effect from the 1st day of April, 2018, namely:—
“Explanation.––For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the amount of deduction under this section shall be allowed from the total income of the assessee computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, before giving effect to the provisions of this section and the deduction under this section shall not exceed such total income of the assessee.”.
