Tax treaty relief at the time of TDS under section 196A of the Act-Budget 2023

Section 196A of the Act provides for TDS on payment of certain income to a non-resident (not being a company) or to a foreign company, at the rate of 20%. The income is required to be in respect of units of a Mutual Fund specified under clause (23D) of section 10 of the Act or from the specified company referred to in the Explanation to clause (35) of section 10 of the Act.

Representations have been received requesting that the benefit of tax treaty may be considered at the time of TDS so that if the treaty provides a rate lower than 20%, TDS is made at that lower rate.

In order to provide the relief requested by taxpayers, it is proposed to insert a proviso to sub-section (1) of section 196A of the Act. This proviso seeks to provide that the TDS would be at the rate which is lower of the rate of 20% and the rate or rates provided in agreement referred to in sub-section (1) of section 90 or sub-section (1) of section 90A of the Act, in case of a payee to whom such agreement applies and such payee has furnished the tax residency certificate referred to in sub-section (4) of section 90 or sub-section (4) of section 90A of the Act.

This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2023.

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