• INTRODUCTION

“Equalise" is to make something equal or distribute evenly and “Levy” is to impose or charge, thus Equalisation Levy creates a level playing field.

Under the existing rules of International Taxation, the Country of Source (“COS”) can tax a non-resident, carrying Business through electronic means, without any physical presence, only if the non-resident has a permanent establishment (“PE”) in the COS. E-commerce companies do not need PE in any COS. They can set up the companies in tax havens and avoid tax in Country of Residence (“COR”) hereby avoiding payment of taxes in both the countries.

E.g. Indian Company is receiving advertisement services from US Company. Here, COS is the Indian Company and COR is the US Company.

Read more: Equalisation Levy

Key Topics:

AUDIT

• OUTSOURCING OF BUSINESS PROCESS IN A MANUFACTURING SECTOR

FEMA

• REPORTING OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT-FIRMS PORTAL

DIRECT TAX

• EQUALISATION LEVY

1. Introduction to MSME: 

• The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector has emerged as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector of the Indian economy over the last five decades. It contributes significantly in the economic and social development of the country by fostering entrepreneurship and generating largest employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital cost, next only to agriculture. MSMEs are complementary to large industries as ancillary units and this sector contributes significantly in the inclusive industrial development of the country. The MSMEs are widening their domain across sectors of the economy, producing diverse range of products and services to meet demands of domestic as well as global markets. 

  Read more: Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) - Allied Laws

  Tags: news

The Honourable High Court of Delhi recently in the case of Smt Sunita Gupta v Union of India has an occasion to examine the validity of re-initiation of proceedings by Initiating Officer (IO) under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (Benami Act). The Honourable High Court after considering the facts of the case has held that there is nothing in law to stop the IO from re-initiating the proceedings if the procedural defects were made correct and the issue of notice is not barred by limitation.

The facts of the case before the Honourable High Court are as follows. On 25.01.2017, the IO has passed an Order of Provisional Assessment in terms of Section 24(3) of Benami Act restraining Smt Sunita Gupta from transferring or charging the property amounting to Rs 2,99,000/- deposited in the savings bank account stating that beneficial owner of such property (amount) is Mr Nitin Jain.

Read more: Re-Intitation of Proceedings by IO - Validity - Benami Act