KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF UNION BUDGET 2020-21

Presented On: 01 February 2020

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2020-21 in the Lok Sabha. This is the second budget after Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance returned to power for a second term.

The key highlights are as under:

Sr.No.

Areas

Key Highlights

1

Taxation
  • Optional tax regime (devoid of deductions) for individual tax payers:

 

Income slab Tax rate
Upto 5 lakhs

0%

5 lakhs to 7.5. lakhs

10%

7.5 lakhs to 10 lakhs

15%

10 lakhs to 12.5 lakhs

20%

12.5 lakhs to 15 lakhs

25%

More than 15 lakhs

30%

 

  • Corporate Tax: New Companies in manufacturing sector be taxed at a 15 %
  • 100% tax exemption on Sovereign Wealth Funds’ Indra Investment.
  • Concessional 5% withholding tax extended to municipal bonds
  • ESOP to be taxed at the end of 5 years, leaving the company or selling shares, whichever is earlier.
  • Concessional tax rate of 15% for new domestic companies in electricity generation.
  • Dividend Distribution Tax to be removed, companies will not be required to pay DDT, dividend to be taxed only at the hands of recipients at applicable rates
  • Charitable institutes be registered with the Income tax department

 

2

Litigation
  • Get exemption from interest and penalty on payment of disputable tax till 31st March, 2020.
  • Tax payer charter (to stop tax harassment) to be a part of the Statute
  • CBDT to adopt tax charter.
  • New digital scheme for litigation
  • Faceless assessments and appeals

3

Industry and Environment
  • Allocation of INR 103 lakh crores for infrastructure pipeline.
  • Audit threshold for MSMEs raised to ₹5 crore from ₹1 crore.
  • Digital refund to exporters for duties and taxes currently not being refunded
  • Firms operating old thermal power plants advised to shut units if emission norms not met
  • Allocation of ₹44 billion for clean air incentives in cities with over 1 million people

4

Investments and future planning
  • Establishment of pension fund by employers other than Government.
  • Investment in government securities open to Non Residents.

5

Banks and NBFC’s
  • Deposit insurance coverage increased to ₹5 lakh from the existing ₹1 lakh.
  • Limits for NBFC for debt recovery decreased to ₹ 50 lakhs.

6

Education and Health
  • 150 higher education institutions to offer apprenticeship diplomas by March 2021. Government will promote ‘Study in India’ initiative.
  • Attach a medical college to a district hospital in PPP model
  • Urban local bodies to provide opportunities to fresh engineers for 1 year.
  • Introduction of Ind Sat Examination for foreign candidates.
  • Launch of “TB harega desh jeetga” (TB will be defeated and the country will win) campaign to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025,”

7

New Economy and Opportunities
  • 2,500 access control highway
  • 9,000 km eco-development corridors
  • 200 coastal and port roads
  • 2,000 km strategic highways
  • Delhi-Mumbai expressway and 2 other corridors will be completed by 2023
  • 4 station re-development projects in railways via PPP models
  • 100 more airports to be developed by 2024 to support Central government’s “Udaan” scheme.
  • Indian Railways will set up Kisan Rail in public–private partnership (PPP) mode for cold supply chain to transport perishable goods.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “By 2030, India will have largest working age population in the world. This population needs both job and life skills. New Education policy to be announced soon.”

About the author

Leave a Reply


Follow Us : |
Phone : 011 - 40562787
malavika.bhatia@bluelotusstrategy.com