October 30 2021
India is pushing G20 nations to ensure that large multi-national corporations (MNCs) pay a minimum corporate tax in the countries in which they operate. A number of countries have raised the issue of large MNCs shifting profits and taxes to low tax jurisdictions, regardless of where revenues are generated.
India loses about $10.3 billion per year as a result of such moves by MNCs, including Big Tech majors Facebook, Google and Amazon that move profits to low-tax jurisdictions such as Ireland, the British Virgin Islands and Panama. “On tax reforms, India has pushed the G20 nations to address the mismatch between source of generation of profits and the jurisdiction where profits are taxed. This will ensure large MNCs pay a minimum effective corporate tax in the country of operation,” Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said in a press briefing prior to the start of the two-day G20 summit on Saturday.
India had earlier this year amended taxation rules to impose an equalisation levy of 2 per cent on trade and services by non-resident e-commerce operators with a turnover of over Rs 2 crore. The US had in June announced a retaliatory tariff on Indian imports after concluding the taxes targeted US firms but immediately suspended the tariffs for a six month period noting that the US was “committed to reaching a consensus on international tax issues through the OECD and G20 processes.”
October 28 2021
The income tax department has expanded the list of high-value financial transactions which would be available to taxpayers in their form 26AS by including details of mutual fund (MF) purchases, foreign remittances, as well as information in ITRs of other taxpayers. Form 26AS is an annual consolidated tax statement that can be accessed from the income-tax website by taxpayers using their Permanent Account Number (PAN).
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on October 26 issued an order under Section 285BB of the I-T Act expanding the scope of information reported in new Form 26AS.
Additional information prescribed includes foreign remittance made by any person through an authorised dealer, breakup of the salary with deductions claimed by the employee, information in ITR of other taxpayers, interest on Income Tax Refund, information published in Statement of Financial Transactions.
October 13 2021
The income tax department has exempted certain non-residents and foreign investors from filing Income Tax Return (ITR) from 2020-21 onwards, a move aimed at easing compliance burden.
Through a notification, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said non-residents (corporates/ otherwise) who do not earn any income other than income from investment in 'specified fund', being Alternate Investment Fund Category III located in International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) or GIFT city shall not be required to file ITR.
Further, eligible foreign investors (non-residents who operate in accordance with SEBI instructions), who during the financial year, have only transacted in capital asset like Global Depository Receipts, Rupee Denominated Bonds, derivatives or other notified securities, listed on recognised stock exchange in IFSC, have also been exempted from ITR filing.