Meassures to promote International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)

Section 47 of the Act provides for tax neutrality relating to certain transfer.

In order to promote the development of world class financial infrastructure in India, it is proposed to amend the section 47 of the Act so as to provide that transactions in the following assets, by a non-resident on a recognized stock exchange located in any International Financial Services Centre shall not be regarded as transfer, if the consideration is paid or payable in foreign currency:-

(i) bond or Global Depository Receipt, as referred to in sub-section (1) of section 115AC; or

(ii) rupee denominated bond of an Indian company; or

(iii) derivative.

This amendment will take effect, from 1st April, 2019 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2019-20 and subsequent assessment years.

Section 115JC of the Act provides for alternate minimum tax at the rate of 18.50 percent. of adjusted total income in the case of a non-corporate person.

In order to promote the development of world class financial infrastructure in India, it is further proposed to amend the section 115JC so as to provide that in case of a unit located in an International Financial Service Center, the alternate minimum tax under section 115JC shall be charged at the rate of 9 percent.

Consequential amendment in section 115JF is also proposed to be made.

This amendment will take effect, from 1st April, 2019 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2019-20 and subsequent assessment years.

[Clause 17, 36 & 37]

Tax neutrality for IFSC trades: certain non-resident transactions not treated as transfer when paid in foreign currency. Section 47 is amended so that certain transactions by a non-resident on a recognized stock exchange in an IFSC-covering bonds and Global Depository Receipts, rupee denominated bonds of Indian companies, and derivatives-will not be regarded as a transfer if consideration is paid or payable in foreign currency. Section 115JC is amended to charge Alternate Minimum Tax at nine percent for a unit located in an IFSC, with consequential amendment to section 115JF; both amendments take effect from 1 April 2019 and apply to assessment year 2019 20 onward.