Govt exempts units at IFSC from TDS provision

New Delhi: The government has exempted certain payments made to units of 14 services sectors in IFSC from TDS provisions effective April 1, a move which will reduce tax compliance burden.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in a notification said that no TDS will have to be deducted for payments to units in sectors like FinTech, banking, fund management entity, finance company, credit rating agency, insurance intermediary and investment banking. The TDS exemption will now be applicable on payments like professional/referral fee, brokerage income, interest on External Commercial Borrowings /Loans, insurance commission, dividend and credit rating fee. International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat is being developed as a tax-neutral enclave for the financial sector.

Nangia & Co LLP Partner Amit Agarwal said the notification by the CBDT offers a significant relief by exempting specified payments made to the units in IFSC from TDS. Previously, exemptions from withholding tax were limited to payments associated with leasing of ships, leasing of aircraft among others.