TDS at the time of purchase of immovable property

Section 194-IA of the Act relates to payment on transfer of certain immovable property other than agricultural land and provides for levy of TDS  at the rate of one per cent. on the amount of consideration paid or credited for transfer of such property. The term ‘consideration for immovable property’ is presently not defined for the purposes of this section. It is noted that in the transaction involving purchase of immovable property, there are other types of payments made besides the sales consideration and the buyer is contractually bound to make such payments to the builder/seller, either under the same agreement or under a different agreement. Some of such payments are those for rights to amenities like club membership fee, car parking fee, electricity and water facility fees, maintenance fee, advance fee etc. Accordingly, it is proposed to amend the Explanation to said section and provide that the term “consideration for immovable property” shall include all charges of the nature of club membership fee, car parking fee, electricity and water facility fees, maintenance fee, advance fee or any other charges of similar nature, which are incidental to transfer of the immovable property.

This amendment will take effect from 1st September, 2019.

[Clause 45]

 

 

 

TDS on transfer of immovable property now covers ancillary charges, expanding 'consideration' to include fees incidental to sale. The Explanation to Section 194-IA is amended to state that consideration for immovable property includes ancillary charges payable by the buyer-such as club membership, car parking, electricity and water facility fees, maintenance fees, advance fees and other similar incidental charges-thereby making these amounts part of the taxable base for TDS on transfer of immovable property other than agricultural land.