Economic Survey bats for a 'rationalised' tax regime to boost start-ups

Budget 2019

Acknowledging the contribution of start-ups in growth of the economy and job creation, the Economic Survey batted for a “rationalised” tax regime and “predictability of policy action” for them in order to spur innovation and attract private investment.
The policy document, which was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, said the “outlook of the Indian economy appears bright with prospects of a pick-up in growth in 2019-20 on back of the pick up in private investment and robust consumption growth". It said the government is playing a proactive role in investment promotion through a liberal foreign direct investment (FDI) policy. During 2018-19, total FDI equity inflow stood at $44.36 billion as compared to $44.85 billion during 2017-18. According to government data, start-ups raised $7.5 billion in 2018, a majority of which was foreign capital, an increase of 74 per cent over the previous year. India now has 10 unicorn start-ups, collectively valued at over $35 billion, it said.
The Survey said that in order to further catalyse the growing ecosystem, taxation for start-ups must be rationalised.
“Tax policy and its implementation for start-ups must be rationalised to foster innovative investments in the Indian economy. Countries across the world recognise the need to evolve a tax system that can foster innovation.”

 It also suggested a re-look at capital gains tax, levied on profits from the sale of shares in unlisted companies. The high rate of capital gains tax in India — 30 per cent (for short-term holding) and 20 per cent (long-term holding) — has pushed some Indian start-ups to shift their headquarters abroad, mainly in Singapore where capital gains tax is nil. In this case, investors and promoters of these start-ups skip paying capital gains to India, resulting in a loss to the exchequer. It is also a deterrent to local M&As...Read More