Union Budget 2024-25 (Full) + FINANCE (No.2) Bill, 2024

Section 194-O of the Act provides that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any of the provisions of Chapter XVII-B, where sale of goods or provision of services of an e-commerce participant is facilitated by an e-commerce operator through its digital or electronic facility or platform (by whatever name called), such e-commerce operator shall, at the time of credit of amount of sale or services or both to the account of an e-commerce participant or at the time of payment thereof to such e-commerce participant by any mode, whichever is earlier, deduct income-tax at the rate of 1% of the gross amount of such sales or services or both.

2. However, representations were received that offline transactions attract a lower TDS rate of 0.1% (under section 194Q relating to TDS on payment of certain sums for purchase of goods) or tax collection at source (TCS) rate of 0.1% [under section 206C(1H) relating to TCS on receipts from sale of goods]. To bring parity between these provisions, reduction of the TDS rate under section 194-O from 1% to 0.1% is proposed.

3. The amendment will take effect from 1st day of October 2024.

[Clause 61]

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Full Text:

Union Budget 2024-25 (Full) + FINANCE (No.2) Bill, 2024

TDS on e-commerce transactions reduced to align with offline parity under the Finance Bill amendment. Section 194-O obliges an e-commerce operator to deduct tax at source on the gross amount of sales or services when that amount is credited to an e-commerce participant's account or paid, whichever is earlier. The Finance Bill proposes reducing the operator's TDS rate to achieve parity with lower rates applicable to comparable offline provisions, with an effective date specified in the Bill.