Committee to Examine the Matter Relating to Levy of MAT on FIIS for the Period Prior to 01.04.2015 among others; Committee Requested to give its recommendations on the above issue Expeditiously

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, while responding to the discussions on the Finance Bill in Rajya Sabha on 7th May, 2015, had announced the constitution of a Committee headed by Justice A.P. Shah to look into the issue of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) on Foreign Institutional Investors  (FIIs) as well as other issues which are referred to it .

Accordingly, a Committee headed by Justice A.P. Shah has been constituted.

Following is the composition of the Committee:-

i)	Justice A.P. Shah (Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and currently Chairman of Law Commission of India)	Chairman
ii)	Dr. Girish Ahuja  (Chartered Accountant and formerly Associate Professor of Commerce,  Shri Ram College of Commerce,  University of Delhi.)	Member
iii)	Dr. Ashok Lahiri (Formerly Chief Economic Adviser & Executive Director, ADB and currently Chairman of High Level Committee to interact with Trade and Industry on tax laws.)	Member

To begin with, the Committee will examine the matter relating to levy of MAT on FIIs for the period prior to 01.04.2015.The Committee will also examine all the related legal provisions, judicial / quasi judicial pronouncements and such other relevant aspects as it may consider appropriate. The Committee has been requested to give its recommendations on the above issue expeditiously.

As initially the Committee would focus on the issue of MAT on FIIs for giving its report expeditiously, other issues to be referred to the Committee will be notified in due course. The Committee may interact with various stakeholders as it may deem fit. The Committee may also invite officers from Department of Revenue including CBDT for consultations/discussions as may be necessary.

The Committee shall set its own procedure for regulating its work. The term of the Committee will be for one year or such period as may be notified by the Government from time to time.

Minimum Alternate Tax on Foreign Institutional Investors: committee to review pre-amendment levy and recommend measures promptly. A High Level Committee has been constituted to examine the levy of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) on Foreign Institutional Investors for the period prior to 01.04.2015, to review relevant legal provisions and pronouncements, and to provide expeditious recommendations; the Committee may set its own procedures, consult stakeholders and revenue officers, and has a one-year term or as notified by the Government.