India targets black money with new assets disclosure law

June 8, 2012

Black_Money

New Delhi, June 8: Filing of income tax returns has become more complicated for those with assets overseas as the government has introduced a compulsory disclosure law for Indians in the country and abroad aimed at tracing black money.

“The overseas assets will not be taxed, but it is an additional hassle for taxpayers,” said Neeru Ahuja, a partner at Deloitte Haskins and Sells.

Apart from the additional hassle, Ahuja said, expatriates see it as an intrusion on their privacy.

“Many people are complaining. Expatriates who have come here to work even for a short period are required to disclose assets back home,” Ahuja said.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) recently issued the new tax return forms for 2011-12 or assessment year 2012-13, mandating disclosure of foreign assets. On the form, a new section labelled ‘FA’ (Foreign Assets) is included.

Individuals with taxable income exceeding Rs1 million (Dh66,750) and Indians and expatriates with assets overseas must file their returns electronically.

“Resident individuals are required to file tax returns in India irrespective of whether they have income chargeable to tax in India or not,” said Ahuja.

As per the Finance Bill 2012, residents with assets outside India are required to file tax returns electronically giving details of such assets.

In other words, income is now not the only criteria for filing a tax return. Residents with assets abroad are now required to submit their details irrespective of whether they have income generated in India.

The government has made disclosure of foreign assets mandatory in a bid to trace black money, which has become a big political issue.

Although there is no official figure, some private research puts illicit money held by Indians at $1.4 trillion (Dh5.14 trillion).

The government says the mandatory disclosure of foreign assets is aimed at preventing the generation and circulation of unaccounted-for money and so that undisclosed assets can be tracked.

However, such a disclosure could cause undue hardship to individuals, especially the family of an expatriate, who qualify as residents due to their physical presence in India.

For example, spouses of foreigners who work in India or non-resident Indians returning to India will need to disclose their foreign assets.

“It is not clear how the additional information may be used, but it will cause hardship to genuine tax payers,” said Ahuja.

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Agencies
July 20,2020

New Delhi, Jul 20: Reiterating that China has still occupied India's territory, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he has fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power which has now become India's biggest weakness as he has to protect the idea of 'Chhapan Inch'.

Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader posted a video message and wrote, "PM fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power. It was his biggest strength. It is now India's biggest weakness."

In the video message, speaking on "China's Strategic Game Plan" the Congress leader said: "What is China's strategic and tactical game plan? It is simply not a border issue. The worry I have is that the Chinese are sitting in our territory today. Chinese don't do anything without thinking about it strategically."

"In their mind, they have mapped out the world and they are trying to shape the world. That's the scale of what they are doing. That's what Gwadar is, that is what belt and road is. It is a restructuring of the planet. So when you are thinking about the Chinese you have to understand that that is the level at which they are thinking," he added.

Now at the tactical level, they're trying to improve their position. Whether it is Galwan, whether it's Demchok or whether it is Pangong Lake. The idea is to position themselves, he said.

"They are disturbed by our highway they want to make our highway redundant and if they are thinking larger scale, they want to do something with Pakistan in Kashmir. So it is not simply a border issue. It is a border issue designed to put pressure on the Prime Minister of India," the Congress leader said.

"And they are thinking of putting pressure in a very particular way. And what they are doing, is that they are attacking his image. They understand that it in order for Mr Narendra Modi to be an effective politician; in order for Mr Narendra Modi to survive as a politician, he has to protect the idea of--Chhapan Inch. And this the real idea the Chinese are attacking. They are basically telling Mr Narendra Modi that if you do not do what we say, we will destroy the idea of Mr Narendra Modi as a strong leader," he added.

Gandhi continued saying, now the question is, how will PM Narendra Modi react. Will he take them on? Will he take on the challenge and say absolutely not, I'm the Prime Minister of India. I do not care about my image I'm going to take you on. Or will he succumb to them?

"The worry I have so far is that the Prime Minister has succumbed. The worry I have is, the Chinese are sitting in our territory today and the Prime Minister has said publicly they are not, which to me tells me that is worried about his image and defending his image," said Gandhi.

"And if he allows the Chinese to understand that they can manipulate him because of his image, the Indian Prime Minister will no longer be worth anything for India," he added.

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Agencies
June 26,2020

New Delhi, Jun 26: The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has issued a notification to enable citizens with mild to medium colour blindness to obtain a driving licence.

An official release said that the Ministry has been taking measures to enable divyangjan citizens to avail transport-related services, especially driving licence.

It said the ministry received representations that the colour blind citizens are not able to get a driving licence due to requirements in the declaration about physical fitness (Form I) or the medical certificate (Form IA).

The release said that the issue was taken up with expert medical institution and advice sought.

The recommendations received were that mild to medium colour blind citizens be allowed to drive and restrictions should only be on the severe colour blind citizens.

"This is also allowed in other parts of the world," the release said.

The notification seeks to amend Form 1 and Form 1A pertaining to Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.

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News Network
March 11,2020

Mar 11: In a bid to keep its flock together, the crisis-hit Madhya Pradesh Congress has decided to shift its 92 MLAs either to Jaipur or some other place.

The move comes after 22 Congress MLAs loyal to former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned on Tuesday, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

"We are going to take our 92 MLAs and those supporting our Madhya Pradesh government to a hotel," a senior Congress leader said on Wednesday.

The legislators would be taken either to Jaipur or some other Congress-ruled state like Chhattisgarh, a party source said.

Apart from its own MLAs, the Congress is also keeping a close watch on four Independents who are supporting the party-led state government.

On Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh resigned soon after Scindia quit the party.

The development reduced the Congress government in the state to minority.

The state Congress unit is now making all efforts to save the Kamal Nath-led government.

The BJP on Tuesday night shifted its MLAs to Manesar at Gurugram in Haryana, sources in the saffron party said.

The Congress, whose tally before the rebellion was 114, has a wafer-thin majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly whose current effective strength is 228.

It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP legislators and one SP MLA, but some of them are now likely to switch sides to the BJP.

The BJP has 107 seats in the state Assembly.

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