The suggestion is to introduce a "capital transaction tax" based on the "circle rate" of the state in which the deal is registered.
Rising compliance, buoyant collections may prompt this move
Debt conversion formula will increase govt stake.
The government may infuse about Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) as equity capital in nationalised banks in addition to an identical amount in the country's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI). Nationalised banks with the government holding closer to the floor of 51 per cent are likely to receive the capital infusion support.
Tax compliance in India is improving steadily. Four years ago, 76 per cent of the 28.8 million tax-payers (assessees) filed annual income tax returns. Since then, the number of tax-payers has been increasing and so is the compliance level. In 2004-05, the compliance rose to 78.2 per cent on a tax-payer base of 29.21 million. In 2005-06, this rose to 82.1 per cent on a base of 29.63 million. In 2006-07, this has risen to a new high of 85.3 per cent on a base of 29.79 mn.
ICICI Lombard has bagged a contract from the railways to provide personal accident cover at a premium of just 4.75 paise per passenger. The personal accident cover is for a year starting from September 20, 2007.
TDS collections stood at around Rs 37,500 crore (Rs 375 billion) during April-August, about 50 per cent of the gross direct tax collections of Rs 75,244 crore (Rs 752.44 billion).
The move would retain the public sector character of these banks, as the holding company will be wholly owned by the government, finance ministry officials said. This company, in turn, will own a majority stake in the banks.
The Reserve Bank of India is in favour of a cautious and gradual approach to financial sector reforms rather than a big-bang approach, as advocated by the Percy Mistry Committee report on making Mumbai an international financial centre.
If the valuation norms are not announced by then, the due date for paying advance fringe benefit tax (FBT) on ESOPs is likely to be extended beyond September 15.
The guidelines on the valuation of employees' stock option plans (ESOPs) for calculating fringe benefit tax (FBT) will be issued by September 8.
A survey by market research firm IIMS Dataworks shows that Indian consumers rarely distinguish between banks in their decisions to opt for the one over the other. They go for the bank that comes their way, for one reason or the other.
Insurer divides country into three zones with varying premiums.
Non-corporate assessees, whose accounts are audited under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, are expected to account for a bulk of these filings, with as many 2.5 million e-returns expected from them this year.
"It is a logical step. The information gathered through annual information returns will now be compared with the tax returns of individuals to see if taxes are paid correctly or not," said a consultant with a leading tax advisory firm.
Currently, quoting the PAN is not mandatory for opening a bank account or buying an insurance policy.
The Centre is planning to raise the ceiling on foreign equity holding in public sector banks to enable them to mop up the required capital for meeting higher capital requirements and to fund growth.
Contrary to the income tax department's hopes, many taxpayers continue to attach annexures (documents like tax deducted at source certificates etc) with the so-called annexure-less tax return forms introduced from this year.
TRPs are part of a pilot programme that the income tax department launched this year to help self-employed individuals and small businessmen, salaried people, senior citizens and Hindu undivided families file returns.
A decision in this regard is likely to be announced on Monday. when Chidambaram meets the chairmen of the 96 regional rural banks.