Income Tax Relief for Developers and Residential Home Buyers To Boost Real Estate Sector

In a bid to provide an additional boost to the economy, as well as the home buyers, the Union Finance Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman, has announced a new stimulus package under Atma Nirbhar Bharat 3.0, on November 12, 2020.

As per the announcement, the acceptable difference between the ‘circle rate’ and the ‘agreement value’ for residential properties has been hiked from the existing 10% to 20%. The tax sop announced is expected to provide relief both to Developers as well as to Buyers, on the notional gains on which income tax is paid by them. The relief, which has been made effective from November 12, 2020, and will be applicable until June 30, 2021, is applicable only on the primary purchase of residential unit of value up to Rs. 2 crores.

What is Circle Rate?

Circle rate is the minimum rate per square foot for land or property fixed by the Government. State governments publish area-wise rates of properties, on a yearly basis, known as ‘Circle Rates’ or ‘Ready Reckoner’ rates or ‘Guideline Values’. Any difference between the Circle rate and the Agreement value beyond the acceptable rate [i.e. 10%, now increased to 20%], is taxed as “income from other sources” u/s. 56(2)(x) of the Income-tax Act 1961 (“the Act”). Accordingly, a Buyer of such property would be required to pay tax on the difference, at the applicable slab rates. Further, in the case of a Developer, under the provisions of section 43CA of the Act, the ‘sale consideration’ of such a property is deemed to be the Circle rate for the purposes of computing profits & gains.

How this will benefit?

Assume that a Buyer is buying a residential property from a Developer for a sum of Rs. 1 crore. The Circle rate value of the property is Rs. 1.2 crore. Prior to the relaxation, as the difference between the Circle rate value and Agreement value exceeded 10%, the Developer was required to consider Rs. 1.2 crore as his Sale consideration u/s. 43CA of the Act for the purpose of calculating his Profit & Gains from Business & Profession.

Similarly, since the difference between the Circle rate value and Agreement value exceeded 10%, the Buyer was required to show the difference between the Circle rate value and Sale consideration of Rs. 20 lacs (1.2 crore Less 1 crore) as deemed income under the head “Income from other sources” u/s. 56(2)(x) of the Act and pay tax on the same at the applicable rate.

The stimulus package announced provides relief by increasing the acceptable difference between the Circle rate and Agreement value from 10 % to 20 %, providing much-needed relief, both to the Buyer as well as to the Developer, during the current pandemic times.

The above tax sop is available only on purchase of new residential property from the Developer of value up to Rs. 2 crores and is not applicable on the resale of property. Also, the said benefit is not extended to the sale of commercial property. Nevertheless, the stimulus is expected to help Developers to clear unsold stock and generate liquidity for their other projects.

Source: https://www.foxmandal.in/income-tax-relief-for-developers-and-residential-home-buyers-to-boost-real-estate-sector/