TDS rates to come down, to better cash flow of small taxpayers

Government has reduced the rates of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on several deductions with a view to improve cash flow, especially of small tax payer.
According to the Budget proposal for 2016-17, the TDS rate in respect of life insurance policies has been reduced from 2 per cent to 1 per cent and on insurance commission from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.
"To improve the cash flow position of small tax payers who get their funds blocked due to current TDS provision, I propose to rationalise TDS provisions for Income Tax," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his Budget speech.

The TDS rate has been halved in case of National Savings Scheme to 10 per cent, and on commission on sale of lottery tickets and other brokerages to 5 per cent.
The Budget also proposes to abolish TDS on income in respect of unit and payment of compensation on acquisition of capital assets.
As part of the rationalisation exercise, the limits for deduction of TDS has been raised.

In case of payment of accumulated balance due to an employee in EPF, the TDS limit is being raised from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000.
The limits for TDS deduction have also been raised in case of payments to contractors from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh, commission or brokerages (from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000), commission on lottery ticket (from Rs 1,000 to Rs 15,000) and on acquisition of immovable property (from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh).

However, in case of insurance commission the threshold for TDS deduction has been reduced from Rs 20,000 to Rs 15,000.
The Budget also proposed to extend the presumptive taxation scheme to professionals with gross receipts up to Rs 50 lakh with the presumption of profit being 50 per cent of the gross receipts.
At present, the Presumptive taxation scheme under the Income Tax Act is available for small and medium enterprises i.E. Non corporate businesses with turnover or gross receipts not exceeding Rs 1 crore.
Jaitley also proposed to increase the turnover limit under this scheme to Rs 2 crore with a view to give relief to assessees in the MSME category.

The Budget also proposes to increase the rate of interest from 6 per cent to 9 per cent on delay in giving effect to Appellate Tribunal's order beyond 90 days.
"The officers who delay it, will be accountable for this loss to Government," Jaitley said.
The monetary limit for deciding an appeal by a single member bench of ITAT will be enhanced from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.