Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

16-March-2012 13:45 IST

STT Proposed to be Reduced by 20 Per Cent

GAAR PANEL Mooted to Counter Aggressive Tax Avoidance Schemes

Levy of Alternate Minimum Tax Proposed to be Extended

In the General Budget 2012-13presented by theUnion Finance Minister ShriPranab Mukherjeein LokSabha here today, it has been proposed to reduce the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on cash delivery transactions by 20 per cent, from 0.125 per cent to 0.1 per cent, in order to reduce transaction costs in the capital markets.

In order to moderate the outgo on profit linked deductions, it has been proposed to extend the levy of Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) on all persons other than companies, claiming profit linked deduction.

The Finance Minister, Shri Mukherjee has also proposed to introduce a General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR) in order to counter aggressive tax avoidance schemes, while ensuring that it is used only in appropriate cases, by enabling a review by a GAAR panel.

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DSM/AG/DB/33

General Anti Avoidance Rule proposed to counter aggressive tax avoidance, paired with AMT extension and STT reduction. The budget proposes three operative measures: reducing the Securities Transaction Tax on cash delivery trades to lower capital market transaction costs; extending the Alternate Minimum Tax to all persons except companies claiming profit linked deductions to curb erosion of the tax base from preferential deductions; and introducing a General Anti Avoidance Rule to counter aggressive tax avoidance schemes, with application subject to review by a GAAR panel to ensure use only in appropriate cases.