Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, 17th September, 2018

PRESS RELEASE

Exemption to interest income on specified off-shore Rupee Denominated Bonds

Interest payable by an Indian company or a business trust to a non-resident, including a foreign company, in respect of rupee denominated bond issued outside India before the 1st of July, 2020 is liable for concessional rate of tax of five percent. Consequently, section 194LC of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) provides for the deduction of tax at a lower rate of five percent on the said interest payment.

Consequent to review of the state of economy on 14th September, 2018 by the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister has announced a multi-pronged strategy to contain the Current Account Deficit (CAD) and augment the foreign exchange inflow. In this background, low cost foreign borrowings through off-shore rupee denominated bond have been further incentivised to increase the foreign exchange inflow.

Accordingly, it has been decided that interest payable by an Indian company or a business trust to a non-resident, including a foreign company, in respect of rupee denominated bond issued outside India during the period from 17th September, 2018 to 31st March, 2019 shall be exempt from tax, and consequently, no tax shall be deducted on the payment of interest in respect of the said bond under section 194LC of the Act.

Legislative amendments in this regard shall be proposed in due course.

(Surabhi Ahluwalia)

Commissioner of Income Tax

(Media & Technical Policy)

Official Spokesperson, CBDT.

Exemption on interest for off shore rupee bonds: no tax deducted for interest on specified issuances during the announced window. Interest payable by an Indian company or a business trust to a non resident in respect of rupee denominated bonds issued outside India during the specified issuance window shall be exempt from tax and consequently no tax shall be deducted under section 194LC on such interest; legislative amendments will be proposed to formalise this change.