Personal Income Tax - Exemption limit raised for tax payers:

Senior Citizen – from Rs.2.25 lakhs to Rs.2.40 lakhs Women – from Rs.1.80 lakhs to Rs.1.90 lakhsOther Individual – from Rs.1.50 lakhs to Rs.1.60 lakhs

Surcharge:Surcharge on various direct taxes to be phased out; in the first instance, the surcharge of 10 percent on personal income-tax eliminated.

Corporate Tax Rate:No Changes made in Corporate Tax rate.

Fringe Benefit Tax:FBT abolished w.e.f. A.Y. commencing on 01.04.2010.

MAT:Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) to be increased to 15 per cent of book profits from 10 per cent. The period allowed to carry forward tax credit under MAT to be extended from 7 yrs to 10 yrs.

Limited Liability Partnership:As per newly substituted Sec. 2(23) LLP included in definition of “Firm” .

Advance Tax:Threshold limit for payment of Advance Tax raised from Rs.5,000/- to Rs.10,000/-.

Wealth Tax:Basic exemption limit increased from Rs.15 lakhs to Rs.30 lakhs.

Tax on Transporters:Presumptive tax rates increased from Rs.3500 to Rs.5000 for HGV and Rs.3150 to Rs.4500 for LGV.

Tax Deducted at Source:

TDS on Rent (Sec. 194I):TDS for the use of any machinery or plant or equipment reduced from 10% to 2% for all payees.TDS for use of land, building, furniture, fittings reduced to 10% for all payees.

TDS on Contract (Sec. 194C):TDS @ 1% where payment made to or credit to an individual or HUF.TDS @ 2% where payment made / credit to person other than individual or HUF.

No TDS on contract for manufacturing / supply product according to requirement of customer by using material purchased from a person other than such customer.

Status:As per newly substituted Sec.2(23) LLP included in definition of “Firm”.

Taxation of Partners of LLP:Partners of LLP included in definition of partners as per Section 2(23).As such as per Sec. 10(2A), share of partner in income of firm is exempt.

Applicable Tax Rates:As such same as applicable to Firms.

Signing of Return of Income:By any designated partner

Allowability of Remuneration to partners of firms: (Section 40b amended for all firms)

1. Distinction between firms carrying business and profession eliminated.

2. New substituted clause 40b(v) reads as:

a) on the first of Rs. 3,00,000/- of the book-profit –Rs. 1,50,000/- or the rate of 90 percent of or in case of a loss the book-profit, whichever is more

a) on the balance of the book profit –at the rate of 60 percent.

Liability of partners of LLP in liquidation:

As per newly inserted Sec. 167C, where any tax due from LLP in respect of any income of any previous year or from any other person in respect of any income of previous year during which such person was a LLP which cannot be recovered ,in such case every person being partner of LLP at any time during the relevant previous year shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of such tax unless he proves that non-recovery cannot be attributed to his gross neglect, misfeasance or breach of duty.

Exemptions

Sun-set clauses for deduction in respect of export profits under sections 10A & 10B extended by one more year i.e. for the financial year 2010-11.

Definition of “Charitable Purpose” amended to include “Preservation of Environment (including water sheds, forests and wild life) and preservation of monuments or places or objects of artistic or historic interest”.

Income of New Pension System Trust exempted.

Electoral Trust (ET): Voluntary contribution received by Electoral Trust not included in total income of that trust, if, ET distributes to any political party at-least 95% of aggregate donation received during the year plus surplus b/f from earlier years.

Anonymous Donation: Anonymous Donations to the extent of 5% of total income or Rs. 1,00,000/-whichever is higher; not to be taxed u/s 115BBC.

Deductions Donations to electoral trusts to be allowed as a 100 percent

deduction in the computation of the income of the donor.

Deduction under section 80E of the Income-tax Act allowed in respect of interest on loans taken for pursuing higher education in specified fields of study to be extended to cover all fields of study, including vocational studies, pursued after completion of schooling.

As per newly inserted Section 35AD; All capital expenditure, other than expenditure on land, goodwill and financial instruments to be fully allowable as deduction incurred in setting up and operating ‘cold chain’, warehousing facilities for storing agricultural produce and the business of laying and operating cross country natural gas or crude or petroleum oil pipeline network for distribution on common carrier principle.

Scope of provisions relating to weighted deduction of 150% on expenditure incurred on in house R&D to all manufacturing businesses being extended except for a small negative list.

Eligibility Criteria:

Eligible Assessee: Any resident assessee being Individual, HUF or a Partnership Firm (other than LLP)

Eligible Business: Any business except business of plying, hiring or leasing good carriages referred to in Section 44AE whose turnover, receipts does not exceeds Rs. 40 lakhs.

Taxation:

Notwithstanding provisions of Section 28 to 43C, a sum equal to 8% of total turnover / gross receipts shall be deemed to be profits and gains of such business.

Any deduction allowable u/s 30 to 38 shall be deemed to have been already allowed and given full effect.

Taxation:

The provisions of Chapter XVIIC (Advance Payment of Tax) shall not apply.

Where eligible assessee is firm; the salary and interest paid to partners shall be separately deducted from income computed @ 8% as above.

The WDV of assets used in the business shall be deemed to have been calculated as if depreciation has been claimed as actually allowed.

In situation assessee claims his profits are lower than 8%; and whose total income exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to tax; it shall be required to keep and maintain books of accounts as per Section 44AA and get the books of accounts audited and furnish a audit report as per 44AB.

Substitution of new section for Section 90.Assessment of foreign company & any person subject to order of transfer pricing officer to be subject to review of assessment order by Dispute Resolution Panel. Dispute Resolution Panel means collegium of 3 CITs.

Proviso to Section 92C(2) substituted as under:-“Provided that where more than one price is determined by the most appropriate method, the arm’s length price shall be taken to be the arithmetical mean of such prices:

-Provided further that if the variation between the arm’s length price so determined and price at which the international

transaction has actually been undertaken does not exceed five percent of the latter, the price at which the international transaction has actually been undertaken shall be deemed to be the arm’s length price.”

The determination of arms length price u/s 92C or 92CA to be subject to “Safe Harbour Rules” to be framed by CBDT. Safe Harbour Rules means circumstances in which AO shall accept the transfer price declared by assessee.

Income Chargeable under the Head Salary:

Definition of perquisite amended to include the following:

The value of any specified security or sweat equity shares allotted by employer or former employer, free of cost or at concessional rate.

The amount of any contribution to approved Superannuation Fund by employer in respect of assessee to the extent it exceeds Rs. 1 Lakh.

The value of any other fringe benefit on amenity as may be prescribed.

Income Chargeable under the Head Business &Profession:

Limit for disallowance of cash expenditure u/s 40(A)(3A) has been increased from Rs.20,000/- to Rs.35,000/- for payment made for plying, hiring or leasing goods carriages.

MAT:Amendment in Section 115JA(2); which provides for the purpose of calculating books profits, “provision for diminution in the value of any asset has been debited to P&L shall be added to the net profit.

Substitution of new Section 145A; which provides that any interest received by an assessee on compensation or enhanced compensation shall be deemed to be income of the year in which it is received.

Requirement to furnish Permanent AccountNumber:

If any person entitled to receive any sum subject to TDS failed to furnish his PAN to person responsible for deducting tax; then tax shall be deducted at the higher of the following rates: a)@ prescribed in relevant provision of Act. b)@ rates in force c)@ 20 percent.

No declaration u/s 197(1), (1A) or (1C) unless persons furnished PAN in declaration.

No certificate u/s 197 unless application contains PAN of applicant.

In case PAN furnished is invalid or false then TDS to be at rates prescribed as above.

Income Chargeable under the Head OtherSources:

Amendment of Section 56(2) w.e.f. 01.10.09, which provides where any individual or HUF receives any sum of money, any moveable property, any other property without consideration or inadequate consideration then such amount will be taxable as under:

in case of sum of money, whole of aggregate value of money which exceeds Rs. 50,000/-.In case of immovable property;

a)received without consideration, the stamp value of which exceeds Rs.50,000/- the stamp value of such propertyb)received for consideration which is less than stamp value by amount exceeding Rs.50,000/-; the stamp value of such property as exceeds such consideration

Any other property:a) received without consideration, the aggregate FMV of which exceeds Rs.50,000/-; the whole of the aggregate FMV of such propertyb) received for consideration which is less than aggregate FMV by amount exceeding Rs.50,000/-; aggregate FMV of such property as exceeds such consideration.

As per Section 56(2) new Clause (viii); Income by way of interest received on compensation or on enhanced compensation as referred in Section 145A(2) will be taxable.

As per Section 57 Clause (iv); In case of aforementioned income u/s 56(2)(viii), a deduction of sum equal to 50% of such income.

Amended 56(2) not to apply to any money or property received from relative or on occasion of marriage of individual or under will or in contemplation of death or from local authority or any fund referred in Sec. 10(23C) or institution registered u/s 12AA.

New section 200A inserted to provide for processing of TDS return furnished u/s 200 and intimation of processing of TDS return to be sent within one year from end of financial year in which return is filed.

No order u/s 201 deeming a person to be an assessee in default for failure to deduct the whole or any part of tax to be made after expiry of

a)Two years from end of financial year in which TDS return filedb)Four years from end of financial year in which

payment is made

The service of notice or summon or requisition or order or any other communication under the Act may be made by post, courier or in such manner as provided under code of civil procedure or as provided in IT Act, 2000 i.e. by electronic mail or electronic mail message.

All notices, order, letter, any correspondence issued by IT Authority shall contain computer generated document identification number. Similarly all document, letter received by IT authority shall be accepted only after allotting and quoting computer generated document identification number. And, if any such document does not contain such document identification number, it shall be treated invalid and deemed to have never been issued or received.Section 147 amended to provide as explanation 3 that AO may assess or reassess the income in respect of any issue, which has escaped assessment and such issue comes to his notice subsequently in the course of proceedings under this section, not withstanding that the reasons for such issue have not been included in the reasons recorded.

OTHERS

New Direct Tax Code to be exposed with in 45 days.

Commodity Transaction Tax: CTT abolished.

The following new taxable services has been added:

a. Cosmetic Surgery or Plastic Surgery: However, it does not include any surgery undertaken to restore or reconstruct anatomy or functions of body affected due to congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, degenerative diseases, injury or trauma.

b. Transport of Coastal Goods; and Goods transported through Inland water.

c. Legal Consultancy Service: However, Service provided by way of appearance before any court, tribunal or authority shall not amount to taxable service. Service provided by an individual shall not amount to taxable service.

d. Transport of Goods through Rail: Presently, transportation of goods in containers by rail, by other than Government railways is taxable under section65(105)(zzzp) since 2006. It is now proposed to impose service tax on goods transported by railways including Government railways, whether in containers or otherwise

Scope of following existing services has been further amended:

a) The present definition of a stockbroker [section 65(101)] includes sub-broker as well. The sub-brokers have been excluded from the purview of service tax by making suitable amendment in the definition of stock-broker. Accordingly, services provided by sub- brokers are no more liable to tax. It is also clarified that such sub-broker should also not be charged to service tax as commission agents under Business Auxiliary Service.

b) It may be recalled that production or processing of goods for or on behalf of a client falls within the purview of this service. However, if any such activity amounts to manufacture within the meaning of section 2(f) of the Central Excise Act, the same is excluded from its purview. This exclusion has been modified to state that it would apply only if the activity results in manufacture of ‘excisable goods’.

c) A correction has been carried out in the definition of the taxable service by replacing the word ‘acquiring’ by the word ‘providing’, considering the fact that it is the providing of ‘right to use’ and not the acquiring of ‘right to use’ is a taxable service.

Miscellaneous:

The Commissioner of Central Excise may, of his own motion, call for and examine the record of any proceedings in which an adjudicating authority subordinate to him has passed any decision or order under this Chapter for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the legality or propriety of any such decision or order and may, by order, direct such authority or any Central Excise Officer subordinate to him to apply to the Commissioner of Central Excise (Appeals) for the determination of such points arising out of the decision or order as may be specified by the Commissioner of Central Excise in his order.

If any difficulty arises in respect of implementing, classifying or assessing the value of any taxable service incorporated in this Chapter by the Finance (No.2) Act, 2009, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Chapter, remove the difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of one year from the date on which the Finance (No. 2) Bill, 2009 receives the assent of the President

Goods Transport Agents (GTAs) receive several services from other service providers (such as warehouse keeper, cargo handlers, C&F agents) during the movement of goods, en-route. While these individual services are taxable at the hands the service providers, the GTA cannot take credit of tax paid on such services, as the abatement allowed to them is subject to condition that no credit should be availed. This matter was agitated by the GTAs, and the government agreed to exempt such services. Consequently, notification No. 1/2009-ST dated 05.01.2009 was issued. It was, however, pointed out by GTAs that litigation is pending for the past period. The said notification No. 1/2009-ST is being given retrospective effect (with effect from 01.01.2005).

Changes in the Works Contract (Composition Scheme for Payment of Service Tax) Rules,2007

The Explanation appearing in sub-rule (3) is being amended to provide that the composition scheme would be available only to such works contracts where the gross value of works contract includes the value of all goods used in or in relation to the execution of works contract whether received free of cost or for consideration under any other contract. This condition would not apply to those works contracts, where either the execution of works contract has already started or any payment (whether in part or in full) has been made on or before the date of the amendment, i.e. 07.07.2009.

Exemption from Service Tax:

1. Inter-bank transactions of purchase or sale of foreign currency,when undertaken by scheduled banks,is being exempt

2. Services provided by sub-brokers are no more liable to tax.It is clarified that such sub-broker should also not be charged to service tax as commission agents under Business Aux Service

The following two services have been exempted, if they are used for export of goods and where the liability to pay the tax on such services is on the exporter himself, on reverse charge basis –(i) Transport of goods by road, from the place of removal to any ICD, CFS, port or airport; or from any CFS or ICD to the port or airport; andii) Services provided by a foreign commission agent for procuring orders.

Amendments made in CENVAT Credit Rules(pertaining to service tax)

a) Rule 3(5B) of the CENVAT Credit Rules provide that, if value of any input or capital goods on which CENVAT credit has been taken, is written off fully or where provision to write off has been made in the books of account before being put to use, the ‘manufacturer’ shall pay an amount equivalent to the CENVAT credit taken on such item. Similar provision is presently not prescribed in case of taxable service provider. The said sub-rule is being amended to bring taxable service provider within the ambit of the said restriction. This provision would come into force immediately

b) Rule 6(3) provides an option for a provider of taxable as well as exempt services, using common inputs or input services, but opting not to maintain separate accounts to pay an amount of 8% of the value of exempted service. This provision was made when the rate of tax on taxable services was 12%. Since the service tax rate has been reduced to 10%, the said amount payable on the exempted services is being reduced from 8% to 6% of the value of exempted service. This provision would come into force immediately

GENERAL CENVAT RATE:

Excise duty rate on items currently attracting 4% tobe raised to 8% with following major exceptions:

Specified food items including biscuits, sharbats, cakes and pastriesDrugs and pharmaceutical products falling under Chapter30Medical equipmentCertain varieties of paper, paperboard and articles thereofParaxylenePower driven pumps for handling waterFootwear of RSP exceeding Rs.250 but note xceeding Rs.750 per pairPressure cookersVacuum and gas filled bulbs of RSP not exceeding Rs.20per bulbCompact Fluorescent LampsCars for physically handicapped

Other Amendments:

Specific component of excise duty applicable to large cars/ utility vehicles of engine capacity 2000 cc and above to be reduced from Rs.20,000/- per vehicle to Rs.15,000 per vehicle.Excise duty on petrol driven trucks/lorries to be reduced from 20% to 8%. Excise duty on chassis of such trucks/lorries to be reduced from ‘20% + Rs.10000’ to ‘8% + Rs.10000’.Excise duty on Special Boiling Point spirits to be reduced to 14%.Excise duty on naphtha to be reduced to 14%.Duty paid High Speed Diesel blended with upto 20% bio-diesel to be fully exempted from excise duties.The ad valorem component of excise duty of 6% on petrol intended for sale with a brand name to be converted into a specific rate. Consequently, such petrol would now attract total excise duty of Rs.14.50 per litre instead of ‘6% + Rs.13 per litre’.The ad valorem component of excise duty of 6% on diesel intended for sale with a brand name to be converted into a specific rate. Consequently, such diesel would now attract total excise duty of Rs.4.75 per litre instead of ‘6% + Rs.3.25 per litre’.

Excise duty on manmade fibre and yarn to be increased from 4% to 8%.Excise duty on PTA and DMT to be increased from 4% to 8%.Excise duty on polyester chips to be increased from 4% to 8%.Excise duty on acrylonitrile to be increased from 4% to 8%.The scheme of optional excise duty of 4% for pure cotton to be restored.Excise duty for man-made and natural fibres other than pure cotton, beyond the fibre and yarn stage, to be increased from 4% to 8% under the existing optional scheme.An optional excise duty exemption to be provided to tops of manmade fibre manufactured from duty paid tow at par with tops manufactured from duty paid staple fibre.Suitable adjustments to be made in the rates of duty applicable to DTA clearances of textile goods made by Export Oriented Units using indigenous raw materials/ inputs for manufacture of such goods.

Full exemption from excise duty to be provided on goods of Chapter 68 of Central Excise Tariff manufactured at the site of construction for use in construction work at such site.Excise duty exemption on ‘recorded smart cards’ and ‘recorded proximity cards and tags’ to be made optional. Manufacturers have the option to pay the applicable excise duty and avail the credit of duty paid on inputs.EVA compound manufactured on job work for further use in manufacture of footwear to be exempted from excise duty.Benefit of SSI exemption scheme to be extended to printed laminated rolls bearing the brand name of others by excluding this item from the purview of the brand name restriction.On packaged or canned software, excise duty exemption to be provided on the portion of the value which represents the consideration for transfer of the right to use such software, subject to specified conditions.Excise duty on branded articles of jewellery to be reduced from 2% to Nil

Government to meet the deadline for implementation of GST from April 1, 2010.