Direct Taxation

Increased Tax Collection at Source rates set to apply from 1st October, 2023

28.06.2023

Certain changes were announced to the system of Tax Collection at Source (TCS) on payments under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and on overseas tour program packages in the Budget. These were to take effect from 1st July 2023. It was also announced in March that, credit card payments would be brought under the LRS. The increase in TCS rates; which were to come into effect from 1st July, 2023 shall now come into effect from 1st October, 2023. Now, it has been decided that there will be no change in the rate of TCS for all purposes under LRS and for overseas travel tour packages, regardless of mode of payment, for amounts up to Rs. 7 lakh per individual per annum.

Further, it has also been decided to give more time for the implementation of the revised TCS rates and for inclusion of credit card payments in LRS. Sub-section (1G) of section 206C of the Income-tax Act, 1961 provides for Tax Collection at Source (TCS) on (i) foreign remittance through the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and (ii) sale of overseas tour program package.

To give adequate time to Banks and Card networks to put in place requisite IT based solutions, the Government has decided to postpone the implementation of its 16th May 2023 e-gazette Notification. This would mean that transactions through International Credit Cards while being overseas would not be counted as LRS and hence would not be subject to TCS.

Threshold of Rs. 7 Lakh per financial year per individual in clause (i) of sub-section (1G) of section 206C shall be restored for TCS on all categories of LRS payments, through all modes of payment, regardless of the purpose: Thus, for first Rs 7 Lakh remittance under LRS there shall be no TCS. Beyond this Rs 7 Lakh threshold, TCS shall be

a) 0.5% (if remittance for education is financed by education loan);

b) 5% (in case of remittance for education/medical treatment);

c) 20% for others.

For purchase of overseas tour program package under Clause (ii) of Sub-section (1G), the TCS shall continue to apply at the rate of 5% for the first Rs 7 lakhs per individual per annum; the 20% rate will only apply for expenditure above this limit.

Tags : TCS Rates Applicability

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