The comprehensive income tax system also known by other synonyms as global income tax, unitary income tax or synthetic income tax is the most used taxation system in western European countries. It has got its name due to the fact that all income types are seen as a one and therefore are added together and taxed as one whole income. It was seen as the ideal tax system in Europe because in its original form it could align fully with the “ability to pay principle” and to both tasks of simplicity and fairness. This method is composed as a system which adds together all the taxpayer’s income (from labor, capital, rent and business) in a single measure and taxes it with a single progressive tax. Labor income is usually defined as income earned from activities as an employed individual. Capital income can take a variety of forms such as dividends, Continue reading
Tax Management
Introduction to Income Tax
The word tax was derived from the Latin word ‘taxore’ meaning to estimate, appreciate or value. Tax is a price which each citizen pays to the state to cover his share of the cost of the general public services which he will consume. It indirectly provides employment opportunities. Taxes are compulsory contributions imposed by the government on its citizens to meet its general expenses incurred for the common good, without any corresponding benefit to the tax payer. In 1860, the British government firstly introduced tax in India. The present law of income tax is contained in the income tax Act,1961 as amended up to date; the income tax rules 1962 as amended up to date and finance Act passed by the parliament every year. Income Tax Act came into force with effect from 1-4-1962 and extends to the whole of India. Assessee [Sec 2(7)] Assessee means a person by whom Continue reading
Overview of Tax Regime in India
DIRECT TAXES Individual Income Tax & Corporate Tax The provisions relating to income tax are contained in the Income Tax Act 1961 and the Income Tax Rules 1962. The Income Tax Department is governed by the Central Board for Direct Taxes (CBDT) which is part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance. In terms of the Income Tax Act, 1961, a tax on income is levied on individuals, corporations and body of persons. Tax rates are prescribed by the government in the Finance Act, popularly known as Budget, every year. The Government of India has recently taken initiatives to reform and simplify the language and structure of the direct tax laws into a single legislation – the Direct Taxes Code (DTC). After public consultation the Direct Taxes Code 2010 was placed before the Indian Parliament on 30 August 2010, when passed DTC will replace the Income Tax Continue reading
Income from Capital Gains
Any profits and gains arising from the transfer of a capital assets effected in the previous year shall be chargeable to income tax under the head capital gain in the PY in which the transfer took place. It should satisfy the following conditions There should be a capital asset The capital assets should be transferred. Transfer should result in profit or gains Capital Asset means any property of any kind held by an assessee whether or not connected with his business or profession. But the following assets are not capital assets. Any stock in trade, consumable stores or raw materials held for the purpose of his business or profession. All personal effects except jewellery Agricultural land in India which is situated in rural area etc. Continue reading
Income from Other Sources
Income from other source is a residuary head of income. Any item of income which does not fall under any other four specific heads of income is to be charged under this head. According to sec 56(2) following incomes are chargeable under this head. Dividend declared by a foreign company Family pension Winnings from lottery, crossword puzzles, horse race etc Income from plant, machinery or furniture let out on hire where it is not the actual business of the assessee. Interest from securities, bank deposits Income from sub letting Any other receipts which doesn’t fall under any other heads of income. Income from agricultural land situated outside India Examiner ship fees received by college teachers Income from undisclosed source Ground rent etc Receipts without consideration in certain cases Dividend It means any amount paid by a company, out of divisible profits, whether taxable or not taxable, to its share holders Continue reading
Profits and Gains of Business or Profession
Meaning of Business and Profession Business simply means any economic activity carried on for earning profits. According to Sec 2(3) business is “any trade, commerce, manufacture or any adventure in the nature of trade commerce and manufacture”. Any transaction with a motive of selling at profits included under this concept. It is not necessary that there should be a series of transaction in a business and it should be carried on permanently. Profession is an occupation requiring purely intellectual skills or manual skills controlled by the intellectual skill of the operator. e.g. Lawyer, doctor, engineer etc. So profession refers to those activities where the livelihood is earned by the persons through their intellectual or manual skill. Continue reading