Retrospective change in I-T Act may yield around Rs 40,000 crore

NEW DELHI: The controversial proposal to amend the Income Tax Act with retrospective effect to bring into tax net Vodafone-type deals is expected to yield to the exchequer Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 crore, the government said today.

"The Income Tax department has made an estimation that the total tax implication in consequences of retrospective amendments introduced in Finance Bill 2012 may be to the tune of Rs 35,000-40,000 crore", Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's Budget proposal, aimed at taxing Vodafone-type merger and acquisition deals involving domestic assets has generated lot of debate, with various global bodies claiming that the move would hurt foreign investment.

Once the amendment is approved by Parliament, the government may initiate the process of raising a tax demand of about Rs 11,000 crore for its acquisition of the Hutchison's stake in Hutchison Essar Ltd in 2007. The Supreme Court had set aside I-T department's demand for the tax.

On the overall implications of the proposed amendment, Palanimanickam said, "The figure of Rs 35,000-40,000 crore is an estimate and the exact amount is determined only when assessing officer completes assessment proceedings.

"The proceeding before assessing officer is a quasi judicial proceedings and the name along with demand raised is determined only on completion of such proceedings."

In a separate reply, Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said: " Foreign investors make their decisions taking into account all relevant factors and the investments are admitted into the country within the framework of the applicable laws, rules and regulations formulated to promote the country's interest".