Software development, mining, printing books not to qualify for lower 15% corp tax rate: Finance Minister

New Delhi, December 5

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman on Thursday said the lower 15 per cent tax rate for new manufacturing companies will not apply to computer software development, mining and printing of books.

She was replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which replaces the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, promulgated on September 20, 2019, to cut the base corporate tax rate.

Rajya Sabha later gave its approval to the amendment Bill, which carries a negative list of industries that will not qualify for lower tax rate meant for manufacturing companies set up on or after October 1, 2019, but that begin production before 2023, she said.

“The negative list includes computer software development, mining and printing of books as they are not manufacturing per se,” the minister said.

Sitharaman had announced base corporate tax rate of 22 per cent---down from 30 per cent--- on September 20 for companies that do not seek exemptions, and a reduced the rate of 15 per cent from 25 per cent for some new manufacturing companies. The effective corporate tax rate, including surcharges and cesses (levies to raise funds for specific purposes), will drop by nearly 10 percentage points to 25.2 per cent.

The corporate tax cut followed other measures to prop up slowing GDP growth adopted since the May general elections. These include efforts to reduce red tape and boost foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as plans to consolidate the state-owned banks.

She said the objective of providing a lower 15 per cent corporate tax rate for new manufacturing units was to draw new investment.

New manufacturing companies have been given the option to move to the higher 22 per cent tax bracket if they fail to satisfy conditions meant for availing lower rates, she said.

Sitharaman also promised to continue rollout of reforms to boost the economy. GDP growth rate in July-September slowed to a six-year low of 4.5 per cent.

As per rules, the Rajya Sabha cannot amend money Bills but can recommend amendments.

A money Bill must be returned to the Lok Sabha within 14 days, or the Bill is deemed to have passed both houses in the form it was originally passed by the Lok Sabha. PTI