(THE GIST OF PIB) Equalization Levy

(MARCH-2025)

Equalization Levy

The central government has proposed to abolish the Equalisation Levy, or digital tax, on online advertisements, aiming to benefit advertisers on platforms like Google and Meta.

About Equalization Levy:

The Equalisation Levy was introduced in India in 2016, with the intention of taxing the digital transactionse. the income accruing to foreign e-commerce companies from India.

It is aimed at taxing business-to-business transactions.
It is also often referred to as the "Google Tax".
It is a direct tax, which is withheld at the time of payment by the service recipient.

The two conditions to be met to be liable to equalisation levy:

The payment should be made to a non-resident service provider;
The annual payment made to one service provider exceeds Rs.1,00,000 in one financial year.
Currently, not all services are covered under the ambit of equalisation Levy. The following services are covered:
Online Advertisement Services (Effective from June 1, 2016).
Any provision for digital advertising space or facilities/services or selling goods to Indian residents, or users accessing services/goods through Indian IP addresses (Effective from April 1, 2020).
It was also mentioned during the introduction of the levy that as and when any other services are notified, these will be included with the aforesaid services.

Equalisation Levy Exclusion:

The non-resident service provider has a permanent office in India, and the requested service is linked to that permanent office/establishment.
The total consideration amount to be paid for the specific service payable or received is less than Rs.1 lakh.
The service described is not intended to be used to pursue a profession or work.
An exemption under section 10(50) of the Act is provided to avoid double taxation for any income arising from specified services provided on which equalisation levy is chargeable.
An income chargeable to tax as fees or royalties for technical services will not be included as income for the equalisation levy purposes.