Infrastructure bonds: Govt may reduce withholding tax for FIIs
The government is planning to reduce withholding tax for foreign institutional investors (FIIs) investing in government securities and corporate bonds. Also, it is working on bringing in clarity in taxation policy for securitised debt. An official source told The Indian Express that the proposals are being considered as a part of the Finance Bill, 2013.
“We are preparing procedural mechanism for availing of concessional withholding tax for rupee denominated long-term infra bonds. Currently, investment in debt instruments is unviable for FIIs as the tax rates are very high, especially when you include the cost involved in hedging the exchange risk,” the official said.
Simultaneously, the finance ministry along with the RBI and Sebi is also working on bringing in clarity in taxation policy for securitised debt.
The department of economic affairs is working on framework for registering and recognising the trusts constituted as special purpose vehicles as per securitisation guidelines. “The ministry is thinking of granting pass-through status to these trusts under the I-T Act,” the official said.
The banking and capital market regulator are working on preparing guidelines so that the structure of such SPVs could be determined. The guidelines would also throw light on the tax treatment. Both the issues are being examined by the CBDT, the official said.
Debt investments by FIIs are subject to a withholding tax deduction, between 20.6 per cent and 21.012 per cent depending on the nature and net taxable income of the FII.
The steps are likely to help develop a
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