Budget 2020- Modification of the definition of ‘business trust’
Section 115UA of the Act provides for a taxation regime applicable to business trusts. Under the said regime, the total income of the trust, excluding capital gains income is charged at the maximum marginal rate. Further, the income by way of interest and rent, received by the business trust from a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is accorded pass through treatment i.e. there is no taxation of such interest or rental income in the hands of the trust and no withholding tax at the level of SPV. The business trusts are also required to furnish return of income and adhere to other reporting requirements.
The definition of “business trust” has been provided in clause (13A) of section 2 of the Act, to mean a trust registered as an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) or a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) under the relevant regulations made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Act, 1992 and the units of which are required to be listed on a recognised stock exchange in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Representations have been received stating that private unlisted InvITs should be given the same status as public listed InvITs with regards to tax treatments provided under the Act. Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) (Amendment) (Regulations), 2019 vide notification No.SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2019/10 has, inter-alia, done away with the mandatory listing requirement for InvITs. In light of this, the definition of business trusts under the Act is required to be aligned with the amended SEBI Regulations.
Therefore, it is proposed to amend clause (13A) of section 2 of the Act to modify the definition of “business trust” so as to do away with the requirement of the units of business trust to be listed on a recognised stock exchange.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2021 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2021-22 and subsequent assessment years.
[Clause 62]
Extract of Relevant Clauses of Finance Bill, 2020
Clause 62
“Clause 62 of the Bill seeks to amend section 115UA of the Income-tax Act relating to tax on income of unit holder and business trust.
The said section enables pass through of the income of certain nature from business trust to its unit holders. Sub-section (3) of the said section provides that if in any previous year, the distributed income or any part thereof, received by a unit holder from the business trust is of the nature as referred to in sub-clause (a) of clause (23FC) or clause (23FCA), of section 10, then, such distributed income or part thereof shall be deemed to be the income of such unit holder and shall be charged to tax as income of the previous year.
It is proposed to omit the reference of sub-clause (a) of clause (23FC) of section 10 from the said sub-section so as to provide that the distributed income of the nature as referred to in clause (23FC) or clause (23FCA) of section 10 shall be deemed to be income of unit holder and shall be charged to tax as income of the previous year.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2021 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2021-2022 and subsequent assessment years.”
Extract of Relevant Amendment Proposed by Finance Bill, 2020
62. Amendment of section 115UA.
In section 115UA of the Income-tax Act, in sub-section (3), the words, brackets and letter “sub-clause (a) of” shall be omitted with effect from the 1st day of April, 2021.
