Revenue-hungry finmin mulls taxing dividends of super-rich

Analysts expressed different views on the idea of taxing dividends twice. “This would affect promoters of profitable companies as it amounts to double-taxation. However, since it will impact only a very limited number of people, it makes sense in terms of targeting the super-rich,” said Sunil Jain, partner & head of direct tax practice, J Sagar Associates.

Even as the government is looking at ways to raise taxes amidst economic slowdown and faltering revenues, the proposal is bound to face opposition from promoters of companies, who would be the most affected.

“I am totally against this proposal. This is against the principle of equality and natural justice. If introduced, it will tantamount to double tax. We see no logic behind this proposal since the dividend is already taxed in the hands of the dividend distributor. The stock market will suffer a lot,” said RN Lakhotia, a direct tax expert.

“Taxing at the hands of individuals is against the concept of dividend distribution tax. DDT was introduced to avoid hassles of collections from individuals,” said PricewaterhouseCoopers executive director Rahul Garg.

While the proposal raises concerns of double taxation, taxing dividend above a high threshold would mean it is in line with the idea of progressive taxation. Of 32.4 million taxpayers in the country, some 400,000 reporting taxable income higher than R20 lakh paid over R93,000 crore as income tax in 2011-12. In other words, 1.3% of the taxpayer pool accounted for 63% of the total personal income tax collection of

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