India urges BRICS nations to share coronavirus-related tax measures

Finance and Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey highlighted the need for adopting a "whole of government approach" in dealing with cross-border financial crimes

Finance and Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey on Friday urged BRICS nations to share Covid-19-related tax measures taken by the member countries that will help them understand the fiscal and economic impact of the pandemic.

Pandey attended a virtual meeting of the heads of tax authorities of the BRICS countries. It was hosted by Russia to discuss the response of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) tax authorities to the Covid-19 pandemic and to explore potential areas of cooperation in tax matters.

Pandey shared with other BRICS nations various measures taken by India to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on taxpayers, such as deferment of compliance requirements, reduced rate of interest on delayed payments and reduction in withholding tax rates, according to a Ministry of Finance statement.

"He urged the BRICS nations to share Covid-19 related tax measures taken by respective tax administrations from time to time so that it enhances our understanding of the fiscal and economic impact of the pandemic and encourages us to further evaluate various possibilities in assisting our government's efforts in containing the spread and recovering from the impact of the pandemic," the statement read.

Pandey highlighted the need for adopting a "whole of government approach" in dealing with cross-border financial crimes as they have ramifications in respect of various statutes, not only taxation.

He, therefore, urged the BRICS countries to agree for wider sharing of information exchanged under tax treaties for countering corruption, money laundering, and terrorist financing.

The tax heads of other BRICS nations shared the measures taken by their respective tax administrations and their thoughts on other agenda items like tax challenges posed by digitalisation and exchange of information, the statement said.