Direct Tax code would not override the double taxation avoidance agreement

Revised discussion paper on direct taxes code clarified that the domestic code would not override the double taxation avoidance agreements.This could come as a huge relief as majority of the FIIs operating in India are registered in tax havens. The discussion paper also removed the ambiguity on income classification for tax computation.

Revised discussion paper on direct taxes code provides that between the domestic law and relevant DTAA, the one which is more beneficial to the taxpayer shall apply.

This is a shift from the earlier stand, as the DTC clearly said that neither the DTAA nor the code would have a preferential status and in cases of conflict ‘the one that is later in point of time shall prevail”.

India, incidentally, has signed bilateral tax avoidance treaties with countries like Mauritius, Isle of Man, Seychelles and Cayman Islands, among others.

Revised discussion paper on direct taxes code  proposed that the income arising on purchase and sale of securities by an FII shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head ‘capital gains.

This would help in avoiding unnecessary litigation as many FIIs were classifying their income as ‘business income’ to claim total exemption from taxation in the absence of a permanent establishment in India.

Also, the proposal to revert to a concessional tax treatment for listed equity shares and units of equity-oriented mutual funds held for more than a year was a right step, but would fall short of market expectations, he said.