Budget Proposals 2017- Provisions relating to Direct Taxes at glance

Looking to the Budget Proposals there are no major changes taken place in case of Indirect taxes due to GST implementation. Following are the major changes in direct taxes:

I

 Rates of income-tax in respect of income liable to tax for the assessment year 2017-18

A. Individual, Hindu undivided family, association of persons, body of individuals, artificial juridical person.
(i) The rates of income-tax in the case of every individual (other than those mentioned in (ii) and (iii) below) or Hindu undivided family or every association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Act (not being a case to which any other Paragraph of Part III applies) are as under:—

Upto Rs. 2,50,000                            Nil.
Rs. 2,50,001 to Rs. 5,00,000         5 per cent.
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 10,00,000       20 per cent.
Above Rs. 10,00,000                        30 per cent.

(ii) In the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the previous year,—

Upto Rs.3,00,000                                  Nil.
Rs. 3,00,001 to Rs. 5,00,000              5 per cent.
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 10,00,000           20 per cent.
Above Rs. 10,00,000                           30 per cent.

(iii) in the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at anytime during the previous year,—

Upto Rs. 5,00,000                                    Nil.
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 10,00,000              20 per cent.
Above Rs. 10,00,000                               30 per cent.

The amount of income-tax computed in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Paragraph shall be increased by a surcharge at the rate of,—

(i) ten per cent. of such income-tax in case of a person having a total income exceeding fifty lakh rupees but not exceeding one crore rupees; and
(ii) fifteen per cent. of such income-tax in case of a person having a total income exceeding one crore rupees.

However, in case of (i) above, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding fifty lakh rupees but not exceeding one crore rupees, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on such income shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of fifty lakh rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds fifty lakh rupees.

Further, in case of (ii) above, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees.

B. Co-operative Societies: No Change
C. Firms: No Change
D. Local authorities: No Change

E. Companies
The rates of income-tax in the case of companies have been specified in Paragraph E of Part III of the First Schedule to the Bill. In case of domestic company, the rate of income-tax shall be twenty five per cent. of the total income if the total turnover or gross receipts of the previous year 2015-16 does not exceed fifty crore rupees and in all other cases the rate of Income-tax shall be thirty per cent. of the total income. In the case of company other than domestic company, the rates of tax are the same as those specified for the financial year 2016-17.

Surcharge at the rate of seven per cent shall continue to be levied in case of a domestic company if the total income of the domestic company exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees. Surcharge at the rate of twelve per cent shall continue to be levied if the total income of the domestic company exceeds ten crore rupees. In case of companies other than domestic companies, the existing surcharge of two per cent. shall continue to be levied if the total income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees. Surcharge at the rate of five per cent shall continue to be levied if the total income of the company other than domestic company exceeds ten crore rupees.

However, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding one crore rupees but not exceeding ten crore rupees, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees, by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees. The total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on total income exceeding ten crore rupees, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on a total income of ten crore rupees, by more than the amount of income that exceeds ten crore rupees.

In other cases (including sections 115-O, 115QA, 115R, 115TA or 115TD), the surcharge shall be levied at the rate of twelve per cent.

For financial year 2017-18, additional surcharge called the “Education Cess on income-tax” and “Secondary and Higher Education Cess on income-tax” shall continue to be levied at the rate of two per cent. and one per cent. respectively, on the amount of tax computed, inclusive of surcharge (wherever applicable), in all cases. No marginal relief shall be available in respect of such Cesses.

II.

Changes in Capital gain Provisions

1. Shifting base year from 1981 to 2001 for computation of capital gains
2. Long term Capital gain period reduces from 3 years to 2 years in case of Land and Property.
3. Expanding the scope of long term bonds under 54EC

III

Changes in Business and Profession Provisions

1. Presumptive tax for small traders with turnover upto 2 crore under 44AD now 6% instead of 8 % for full non cash turnover.
2. 44AD turnover limit increased to 2 crores for business. For profession – 50 Lakhs
3. Professionals can pay advance tax in 1 installments if below 50 lac
4. Cash expenditure now allowed only upto 10,000 instead of 20,000 per day per transaction.
5.  No transaction above 3 lac will be allowed in cash
6. Simple 1 page income tax return for persons having non-business income upto Rs. 5 lac.

IV.Major Change for Co-operative Banks

1. Extension of scope of section 43D to Co-operative Banks

The benefit of this provision is presently available to scheduled banks, public financial institutions, State financial corporations, State industrial investment corporations and certain public companies like Housing Finance companies. With a view to provide a level playing field to co-operative banks vis-à-vis scheduled banks and to rationalise the scope of the section 43D, it is proposed to amend section 43D of the Act so as to include co-operative banks other than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank.

Consequentially, as per matching principle in taxation, if the interest income on bad or doubtful debts is chargeable to tax on receipt basis, the interest payable on such bad or doubtful debts need to be allowed on actual payment. In view of this, it is proposed
to amend section 43B of the Act to provide that any sum payable by the assessee as interest on any loan or advances from a co-operative bank other than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank shall be allowed as deduction if it is actually paid on or before the due date of furnishing the return of income of the relevant previous year.

These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years.

2. Increase in deduction limit in respect of provision for bad and doubtful debts

The existing provisions of sub-clause (a) of section 36(1)(viia) of the Act, inter-alia provides that a scheduled bank (not being a bank incorporated by or under the laws of a country outside India) or a non-scheduled bank or a co-operative bank other than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank, can claim deduction in respect of provision for bad and doubtful debts. The amount of such deduction is limited to seven and one-half per cent. of the total income (computed before making any deduction under that clause and Chapter VIA) and an amount not exceeding ten per cent of the aggregate average advances made by the rural branches of such bank computed in the prescribed manner at the end of the previous year.

In order to strengthen the financial position of the entities specified in the sub-clause (a) of section 36(1) (viia) of the Act, it is proposed to amend the said sub-clause to enhance the present limit from seven and one-half per cent. to eight and one-half per cent of the amount of the total income (computed before making any deduction under that clause and Chapter VIA).

This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years.

V. Changes in Dedections;

1. 80G:

Restricting cash donations Under the existing provisions of section 80G, deduction is not allowed in respect of donation made of any sum exceeding Rs.10,000, if the same is not paid by any mode other than cash.

In order to provide cash less economy and transparency, it is proposed to amend section 80G so as to provide that no deduction shall be allowed under the section 80G in respect of donation of any sum exceeding two thousand rupees unless such sum is paid by any mode other than cash.

This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years.

2. 80CCD

Rationalisation of deduction under section 80CCD for self-employed individual The existing provisions of section 80CCD provides that employee or other individuals shall be allowed a deduction for amount deposited in National Pension System trusts (NPS). The deduction under section 80CCD (1) cannot exceed 10% of salary in case of an employee or 10% of gross total income in case of other individuals. However, under the provisions of section 80CCD (2) of the Act, further deduction to an employee in respect of contribution made by his employer is allowed up to 10% of salary of the employee. Thus, in case of an employee, the deduction allowed under section 80CCD adds up to 20% of salary whereas in case of other individuals, the total deduction under section 80CCD is limited to 10% of gross total income.

In order to provide parity between an individual who is an employee and an individual who is self-employed, it is proposed to amend section 80CCD so as to increase the upper limit of ten per cent of gross total income to twenty per cent in case of individual other than employee.

This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and, will accordingly, apply in relation to assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years.

VII. Changes in TDS Provisions 

1. No TDS on insurance agents if 15 G/H filed
2. it is proposed to insert a new section 194-IB in the Act to provide that Individuals or a HUF (other than those covered under 44AB of the Act), responsible for paying to a resident any income by way of rent exceeding fifty thousand rupees for a month or part of month during the previous year, shall deduct an amount equal to five
   per cent. of such income as income-tax thereon.