Issue/Justification
Under the current tax regime, there is no provision under the Act which enables an employer to consider admissible benefits under the respective Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (e.g. credit for taxes paid in another country/ treaty exclusions of income etc.), while computing tax to be deducted under Section 192 at the time of payment of salaries to employees. Further, the foreign tax credit rules notified by the CBDT in June 2016 also does not contain explicit provision for providing credit for taxes paid in another country by the employer at the time of deduction of tax on salary payments.
Due to the above, it creates cash out-flow issues to the employees (migrating employees coming to and leaving India) who are initially subject to full TDS by their employers and thereafter required to claim refunds on account of tax treaty benefits while filing their income tax return. Many of these employees may complete their assignments and leave India prior to obtaining their tax refunds which also creates hardships with respect to receiving back the refund amounts.
Suggestion
It is recommended to provide for claiming relief available under the tax treaty, at the time of TDS.
