Asit Ranjan Mishra And Anindita Dey In Mumbai

Stories by Asit Ranjan Mishra And Anindita Dey In Mumbai

RBI may allow banks to decide on branches

RBI may allow banks to decide on branches

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2009

The Reserve Bank of India may de-license or leave it to banks to open branches in rural and semi-urban centres, in a step towards liberalising its branch authorisation policy.

Taxmen give tax code the thumbs-down

Taxmen give tax code the thumbs-down

Rediff.com   12 Oct 2009

Taxmen are opposing proposals to cut personal income and corporate tax and scrap taxes on various transactions.

FEMA to apply to reverse overseas M&As, says RBI

FEMA to apply to reverse overseas M&As, says RBI

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2009

The Reserve Bank of India has said Indian companies merging with overseas firms will continue to be treated as entities resident in the country under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). There is no provision for such a merger under the current Companies Act. But a Bill to amend the Act tabled in the Budget session of Parliament proposes to allow Indian companies to merge with overseas companies, under section 205, a move that could introduce greater flexibility in

Govt puts 4-week cap on bulk sugar

Govt puts 4-week cap on bulk sugar

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2009

The decision will come into effect on September 19. In the notification issued by the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, three weeks was given for so reducing the stock.

Customs clearance takes the super-fast track

Customs clearance takes the super-fast track

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2009

A silent revolution is taking place in the country's airports and ports -- one that will alter India's notoriously troublesome Customs clearance procedures, both at entry and exit points.Export consignments will no longer have to undergo the drudgery of long Customs clearance procedures. And the facility will be extended to courier services or even passengers after some time. Such a system exists for imported goods and has met with a huge success.

300 firms to pay RBI penalty for violating norms

300 firms to pay RBI penalty for violating norms

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2009

These companies struck joint ventures with foreign partners before the government relaxed FDI sectoral limits by issuing Press Notes 2 and 4 in February this year, and had approached FIPB for approvals later. FIPB sent a note to this effect to the RBI a month ago, advising the central bank to deal with such cases.

Tax board eyes firms with forex borrowings

Tax board eyes firms with forex borrowings

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2009

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has advised its field formations to scrutinise all cases in which companies have amortised foreign exchange losses under the one-time discretion allowed by the government through an amendment to Accounting Standard 11 (AS-11).

Audit firms may face action for wrong-doing

Audit firms may face action for wrong-doing

Rediff.com   24 Aug 2009

The ministry of company affairs (MCA) intends to insert a clause in the Companies Act that will make audit firms also liable to prosecution as against the existing provisions that limits penal action only to chartered accountants.

High court revives settlement commission

High court revives settlement commission

Rediff.com   15 Aug 2009

In a major relief to over 3,000 companies all over India seeking arbitration in tax cases with the Settlement Commission, the Bombay High Court has termed as "unconstitutional" the government's decision to suggest a cut off date of March 31, 2008, for all cases filed before June 1,2007.

RBI wants to regulate housing finance firms

RBI wants to regulate housing finance firms

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2009

Housing finance companies are currently regulated by NHB, which is, in turn, regulated by RBI. NHB is wholly-owned by RBI.

Capital gains tax blow may soften for foreign cos

Capital gains tax blow may soften for foreign cos

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2009

Authority for Advance Ruling dispenses with complex forex indexation requirement.

RBI steps in to ease borrowing blues

RBI steps in to ease borrowing blues

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2009

Looking to raise OMO limit, borrowing cap for primary dealers.

RBI may leave policy rates unchanged

RBI may leave policy rates unchanged

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2009

At the same time, banking sources close to the development said the central bank could raise its growth target from 5-6 per cent to 6.5 per cent to accommodate the impact of an improving monsoon and the growth impetus provided through various fiscal and monetary stimulus packages earlier in the year. The cautious outlook on interest rates is primarily to accommodate rising inflationary expectations in the economy.

Now, 'relationship managers' enter I-T dept

Now, 'relationship managers' enter I-T dept

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2009

Client executives and relationship managers -- so far confined to the private sector and especially service providers -- have now made an entry into the tax department, too. Just like the relationship manager at your bank, the 'client executive' will coordinate all the tax requirements of a company, which could range from income tax to central excise and service tax.

Charitable trusts may lose 'double' tax break

Charitable trusts may lose 'double' tax break

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2009

Officials close to the development said the I-T department's suggestion is to amend Section 11, which specifies the manner in which income from charitable bodies is exempt from income tax. The I-T department has said charitable organisations enjoy a double deduction by claiming tax breaks through both depreciation and capital expenditure write-offs.

Charitable trusts may lose 'double' tax break

Charitable trusts may lose 'double' tax break

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2009

Officials explained that the basic condition for charitable bodies to claim exemption is that the income should be derived from property held under a trust and the income should be applied to charitable or religious purposes in India.

TDS rates may be recast

TDS rates may be recast

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2009

The income tax department has recommended that TDS rates should be structured in three slabs of between one and five per cent for any stream of income. At present, there are multiple tax rates for TDS, starting from one per cent to over 30 per cent. Also, some rates are specified in individual sections that deal with the tax treatment of a particular income; others are included in separate schedules, making TDS payments difficult to monitor.

TDS rates may be recast

TDS rates may be recast

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2009

The income tax department has recommended that TDS rates should be structured in three slabs of between one and five per cent for any stream of income. At present, there are multiple tax rates for TDS, starting from one per cent to over 30 per cent. Also, some rates are specified in individual sections that deal with the tax treatment of a particular income; others are included in separate schedules, making TDS payments difficult to monitor.

Financial sector shines in advance tax payments

Financial sector shines in advance tax payments

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2009

Data show manufacturing still down, unlike banking

Small savings rate up for review

Small savings rate up for review

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2009

Official sources said the government was of the view that while de-regulating, the rates on small savings' interest rates could either be cut 25 to 50 basis points or linked to the sovereign rate, which is the interest rate on government securities for a specific maturity. The move follows demands from banks and suggestions from RBI.