(GIST OF YOJANA) Tax Proposals:
Benefits to Common Man
[MARCH-2020]
Tax Proposals: Benefits to Common Man
Introduction:
- The Budget 2020-21, reformative budget in the present economic scenario
is the budget that cares for all the people of India Across economic strata.
- The basic canon of this budget has been that our journey towards
development to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024, no one is left
behind.
- This Budget woven around the themes of Aspiration India, the
Caring India and Economic development for Allis the guide map for the year
2020-21to join hands together and advance on the path of economic growth
together with the help of technology and innovations.
Key objectives:
- This is the Budget to boost people’s incomes, to provide more money in
their hands, to enhance their purchasing power, to boost consumption and
therefore demand.
- The demand in turn would intensify the growth cycle of the economy with
jobs and gainful earnings.
- In this endeavour tax policy is critical astax revenue is not only
essential for undertaking expenditure to spur investment, employment and
growth but is also essential for undertaking spending on priority sectors
and welfare schemes which safeguards the welfare of the marginal sections of
the population.
- Tax policy is also used to provide impetus to certain industries,
regions and financial instruments by channelizing savings and investment
into specific areas based on the priorities of die Government with regards
to economic policy and growth.
- With these objectives,the Budget 2020-21 focuses on fundamental
structural reforms and inclusive growth.
- The Government’s aim is to make the tax department a department
indialogue with taxpayers which listens, trusts and believes you; which is
using technology to provide convenience to genuine taxpayers and is
judiciously equipped with data analytics and information triangulation to
hit tax evaders and reduce leakages with targeted actions; which is faceless
but friendly to serve taxpayers better;which is simple, online and helpful
system with least possible legal disputes.
Budget highlights in respect of Indirect and Direct Taxes Are:
- Indirect Taxes- GSTRevised Estimate of COST for current FY 2019-20 is Rs.
5,14,000crore and the Budget Estimate of CGST for upcoming FY 2020-21is Rs.
5,80,000 crore. A simplified return currently under pilot run shall be
implemented from 1 April, 2020.
- It will make return filing simple with features like SMS-based filing
for nil return, return pre-filling, improved input tax credit flow and
overall simplification.
- Refund process has been simplified and has been made fully automated
with no human interface.
- At the same time, data analytics and AI tools are being used for
targeted crackdown on GST free input tax credit, deceitful refundclaims, and
other frauds.
- Several measures have been taken for improving compliance.
- E-invoice will be implemented in a phased manner on optional basis to
facilitate compliance and return filing. Aadhaar-based verification of
taxpayers is being introduced. This Will help in weeding out dummy or
non-existent units.
- Dynamic QR-code is proposed for consumer invoices.GST parameters will be
captured when payment for purchases is made through the QR-code. A system of
cash reward is envisaged to incentivize customers to seek invoice/s. GST
rate structure is also being deliberated soas to address issues like
inverted duty structure.
Indirect Taxes-Customs:
- The Revised Estimate of Customs Duties for 2019-20 is Rs.1,25,000 crore
as against the Budget Estimate of Rs. 1,55,904 crore. Budget Estimate for
2020-21 is Rs. 1,38,000 crore. Besides several tax measures proposed in
Customs in line with the stated policy direction of the government, suitable
provisions for verification of beneficial duty claim arc are incorporated in
the Customs Act to specifically provide for certain obligations on importers
and prescribe for time bound verification from exporting countries in case
of doubt.
- In addition, changes are being made in certain provisions of safeguard
duty and the Anti-dumping Rules And Countervailing Duty Rules are being
strengthened for the anti- circumvention measures.
- To give boost to domestic industry, import duty on a number of products
such as footwear, furniture, toys, tableware and kitchenware, stationery and
other office items and a number of domestic appliances and items of common
use that are locally produced, especially by the MSME sector, are being
increased.
- A concerted effort has been made to increase domestic value addition in
sectors like mobile phones and other electronics items, electric
vehicles,batteries, etc., through proper
phasing of manufacturing activity.
- Customs Exemptions have been reviewed to weed out entries that arc
redundant,obsolete or outlived their utility and 80such exemptions are being
withdrawn by making suitable amendment/rescission of relevant notifications.
- A health cess is proposed, byway of custom duty, on the imports of
medical equipment keeping in view that these goods are now being made
significantly in India. The proceeds of this cess shall be used for creating
infrastructure for health services in the identified districts.
Direct Taxes:
- Before we go on the direct tax proposals in the Budget 2020-21,let us
have a look on the income tax scenario. The efforts undertaken by the income
tax department arc reflected in the significant growth in overall tax
collection, number officers and taxpayers, etc.
- As a result of the efforts undertaken, the Indian economy has displayed
high tax buoyancy with a buoyancy factor greater than 1, i.e., the rate of
growth of direct taxes has been greater than the rate of growth of GDP.
- Apart from high tax buoyancy,between 2014-15 and 2018-19, the direct
taxes have recorded a growth in collection of 64%.
- Further between FY 2013-14 toFY 2018-19 the number of return files has
grown by 91.02% while the number of taxpayers has increased by 60.55%.
- With this performance on income tax,the Budget emphasises on simplifying
the direct tax administration and making the proposed Tax Charter The part
of the statute. This is the yet another determined step to make the direct
tax system taxpayer friendly in true sense.
- The Income Tax Act States taxpayers’ responsibilities.The Taxpayers’
Charter would state tax administration’s accountability towards taxpayers.
- In the budget, Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT)has been proposed to be
abolished.The dividend now shall be taxed only in the hands of the
recipients at their applicable tax slab rate. There Have been several
procedural easingalongside.It proposes to bring a new and simplified
personal income tax regime where income tax rates will be significantly
reduced for the individual taxpayers who for certain deductions and
exemptions.Such relief is expected to give an impetus to the demand at
estimated revenue forgone of Rs. 40,000 crore per year.
- The new tax regime shall be optional for the taxpayers hence an
individual who is currently avail more deductions and exemptions under the
Act may choose to avail them and continue to pay tax in the old regime.
- The Scheme gives complete waiver of interest and penalty if the Scheme
Is availed before 31 March, 2020.
- The objective of enhancing the efficiency of the delivery system of the
Income Tax Department, theBudget proposes to Nprovide that the CBDT shall
adopt a Taxpayer’sCharter and issue necessary directions for the
implementation of the same.
- To incentivize the investment by the Sovereign Wealth Fund off oreign
governments in the priority sectors, the Budget proposes to grant 100% tax
exemption to their income for investments made inIndia.
- In order to enable start-ups to attract talented employees by providing
them Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). The Budget Proposes to allow
deferment ofthe tax payment by the employee for five years in respect of
income relating to ESOP.
- To further incentivize the start-up ecosystem, the Budget also proposes
to provide lax holiday to the large Start-ups having turnover up to Rs.100
crore and also to extend the period of availing the deduction from 7 years
to 10 years. The Budget proposes to raise the turnover threshold for
compulsory audit from the existing Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 5 crore.
- As it brings in an income tax regime that is not only hassle-free and
less cumbersome but also lessens the burden of scrutiny and compliance on
the taxpayers and minimizes the paperwork such as receipts maintenance,
documentation and burden of proof.
