Govt Removes Enhanced Surcharge on FPIs, Angel Tax for Startups

FM Nirmala Sithraman and other officials addressed the media on Friday, 23 August.

(Photo: PTI)

Giving in to the demands of overseas investors, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, 23 August, announced the rollback of enhanced surcharge on foreign portfolio investors (FPI) levied in the Union Budget.

Surcharge on long- and short-term capital gains arising from the transfer of equity shares has been withdrawn, she said. “The pre-Budget position is restored,” the minister said.

It is being done to encourage investment in the capital market, the finance minister said.

The decision taken in the Budget to levy enhanced surcharge had spooked the stock markets.

Following the increase in surcharge in the Budget, the effective income tax rate for individuals with taxable income of Rs 2-5 crore went up to 39 percent from 35.88 percent and for those above Rs 5 crore to 42.7 percent.

Earlier this month, capital market participants and foreign institutional investors presented a charter of demands to Sitharaman which included the rollback of surcharge on FPIs and the review of dividend distribution tax.

Sitharaman further said that to mitigate genuine difficulties of startups and their investors, it has been decided to withdraw angel tax provisions for them.

A dedicated cell under a member of CBDT too, will be set up for addressing the problems of startups.