Chartered Accountant
1375 Points
Joined August 2012
Coming to the recent Press release regarding the reduction of Presumptive tax rate from 8% down to 6% for digital receipts:
Ever-since the moment, Shri. Arun Jaitley had announced the above reduction in rate to be a TAX RELIEF for all small businesses, many have interpreted that every assessee who opts for Section 44AD, may now have to declare only 6% of Gross Receipts regardless of the level of actual profits.
However I choose to disagree with the above interpretation. I would say, only a small business (say, having receipts vide digital means only) having meagre profit ratio ranging below 6%, may get the benefit of "TAX RELIEF". Earlier, if he did not want to maintain Books of accounts, he had to opt for Section 44AD and pay tax on atleast 8% of Gross receipts (eventhough actual profits were less). However, once the above amendment is brought in, he may have to pay tax only on 6% of Gross Receipts (instead of 8% earlier). This is the Tax Relief (2% of gross receipts) that Shri. Arun Jaitley seems to have referred to. Hence, any assesse earning more than 6% profits, still has to declare such higher profits as income.
The so-called "Relief" will be available only to the ones who didnt want to maintain Books of accounts, who accept receipts by digital modes AND whose actual profits were less than 8% earlier. Such assessee may now declare 2% lesser income.
Hence the position of having to declare 6% of Gross Receipts or Actual profits, whichever is higher, still seems to stand strong inspite of the proposed amendment.
In the case of businesses receiving income in cash, the tax rate appears to be the same as earlier (8%).
For now, We'll just have to wait and see how this amendment ends up in the Finance Act 2017.
Contrary views are encouraged.