Dividend Distribution Tax is the tax paid on dividends distributed by a company to its shareholders. A Domestic Company must pay DDT as per the provisions of Section 115O of the Income Tax Act. Since the Company pays DDT, the dividend income is exempt in the hands of the shareholder under Section 10(38). Under Budget 2020, the Finance Minister abolished DDT. As a result, the dividend income is now a taxable income in the hands of the shareholder. DDT would not be applicable to any dividend paid on or after 1st April 2020.
A Domestic Company was liable to pay DDT Tax as per Section 115O.
The company should pay DDT within 14 days from the date of declaring, distributing or paying the dividend whichever is the earliest.
If the Company does not pay dividends within 14 days, interest at a rate of 1% is payable by the Company from the date on which DDT was payable up to the date of payment of DDT to the government.
Union Budget 2021 Update
After the abolishment of DDT under Budget 2020, dividend which was earlier exempt now became a taxable income. Under Budget 2020, TDS under Section 194 and Section 194K was introduced for deduction of TDS on dividend paid on equity shares and equity mutual funds. Under Budget 2021, dividend paid to REIT / InvIT is now exempt from TDS.
Advance Tax liability would arise on dividend income only once the dividend is declared or paid since it is difficult for the shareholders to estimate the dividend income accurately.
DDT – (Dividend Distribution Tax) Rate
A Domestic Company distributing or declaring dividends should pay DDT at 15% on the gross dividend as per Section 115O. Since the DDT is calculated on Gross Dividend, the effective rate comes to 17.65%.
Note: Thus, the effective DDT rate is 17.65%. Further, the above rate does not include cess and surcharge. After calculating cess and surcharge, the effective rate is 20.56%.
Under Budget 2020, the Finance Minister abolished Dividend Distribution Tax i.e. DDT. A Company is no longer liable to pay DDT. As a result, the dividend income which was earlier exempt up to INR 10 lacs, now became taxable for the investors. Such dividend income would be taxable at slab rates. Since the dividend income is taxable, TDS becomes applicable on such Income. The Finance Minister also introduced a new TDS section for TDS on dividend – Section 194K (TDS on Dividend from Equity Mutual Funds) and amended the existing Section 194 (TDS on Dividend from Equity Shares).
FAQs
What is the tax treatment of dividend income from Foreign Company?
Dividend income from a foreign company is a taxable income. The investor should report it under the head Income from Other Sources. The income tax on dividend income is as per slab rates. The provisions of DDT or TDS are applicable to a Domestic Company only.
Why was the Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) abolished under Budget 2020?
Upto FY 2019-20, a Domestic Company was liable to pay DDT at 15% on the Gross Dividend. On the other hand, Dividend was an exempt income for the shareholders. To provide relief to the Domestic Companies and boost foreign investments, DDT was abolished under Budget 2020. Since the tax on distribution of dividend was removed, the dividend income became taxable for the shareholders. Thus, for any dividend declared or paid on or after 1st April 2020, it is taxable in the hands of the shareholder. The Company is also liable to deduct TDS as per Sec 194 or Sec 194K.
The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman had presented the budget 2020 on the 1st of February 2020. The record-breaking 2 hours and the 30-minute speech by the Finance Minister had many major announcements. The major highlights of the budget 2020 that have been covered under this article are as follows:
According to the Finance Minister, the taxpayers now have the option to either continue with the current tax regime or join the new tax regime in the upcoming Assessment Year. The major difference between both of these tax regimes is the exemptions and deductions. The given below tables shows the slab rates under both the tax regimes:
Income Range
Current Income Tax Rates
New Income Tax Rates
Up to INR 2,50,000
NIL
NIL
INR 2,50,001 to INR 5,00,000
5%
5%
INR 5,00,001 to INR 7,50,000
20%
10%
INR 7,50,001 to INR 10,00,000
20%
15%
INR 10,00,001 to INR 12,50,000
30%
20%
INR 12,50,001 to INR 15,00,000
30%
25%
Above INR 15,00,000
30%
30%
The Finance Minister announced that under the new tax regime, the basic tax exemption limit will remain the same for all assessees including the senior citizens. Therefore, in case you opt for the new regime, there will be no higher tax exemption for the senior and super senior citizens.
Changes in Deductions and Exemptions
According to the announcement made in the budget 2020, there have been major removals of tax exemptions and deductions. This has made compliance tax less tedious. Here is the list of what deductions have stayed and what deductions have been removed:
Changes in Deductions on Home Loan interest- Section 24(b)
No claim of home loan Interest on Self Occupied House Property: Individuals who have taken a home loan on their self-occupied property and are paying interest on it, can not claim that interest deduction under Section 24(b).
A claim of home loan Interest on Rental House Property: Under the new income tax regime, individuals can claim interest on home loans for let out property only up to the amount of their rental income.
The setting off losses from house property
As per the new income tax regime, losses from house property can only be set off against other income from house property. Moreover, losses from income from house property cannot be carried forward in the new income tax regime.
Deduction for first-time Homebuyers
Deduction u/s 80EE & Section 80EEA gives relief on interest paid on home loans for first time home buyers. This deduction is no longer available for taxpayers following the new income tax regime.
Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) has been abolished for the companies. However, the dividend is now taxable for the shareholders at the rate of 15%.
Corporate Tax
Tax on co-operative societies has been reduced from 25% to 22% without exemptions. Additionally, manufacturing startups will have to pay a 15% tax if they have registered after 1 October 2019, as long as they commence operations by 31 March 2023.
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) is an investment by non-residents in Indian securities including shares, government bonds, corporate bonds, convertible securities, infrastructure securities etc. Post budget 2020, the limit in corporate bonds has been raised from 9% to 15%.
How to calculate self-occupied house property income?
A Self Occupied House Property is the one that you use as your own residence. This property may also be used by your children, spouse and/or parents. Since there is no Income from such House Property, the gross annual value of this property is NIL (zero).
Since the gross annual value in the case of Self Occupied House Property is zero, claiming a deduction for Home Loan interest will result in a Loss from House Property. This loss can be adjusted against income from other heads.
What are the conditions to claim deduction u/s 80EEA?
Deduction u/s 80EEA is available subject to given below conditions:
1. The stamp duty value of residential houses shall be up to Rs. 45 lakh. 2. The deduction can be claimed only by individual taxpayers. 3. The loan is taken from a financial institution. 4. The loan has been sanctioned between 01-04-2019 to 31-03-2020. 5. Assessee is not claiming any deduction under section 80EE. 6. The assessee owns no residential house property on the date of sanction of loan.
Is TDS deducted on dividend paid to a non-resident shareholder?
Yes. Domestic Company distributing dividends to a shareholder not resident in India should deduct TDS at the prescribed rates as per Section 195 of the Income Tax Act. In the case of a resident shareholder, TDS should be deducted at the rate of Sec 194 or Sec 194K.
What are the general documents needed to file ITR?
Income from Other Sources is the residual head of income. Hence, any income which is not specifically taxed under any other head of income will be taxed under this head. Further, there are certain incomes that are always taxed under this head. These incomes are as follows:
Dividends from companies.
Winnings from lotteries, crossword puzzles, races including horse races, card games, and other games of any sort, gambling or betting of any form whatsoever.
Income by way of interest received on compensation or on enhanced compensation shall be chargeable for tax under the head “Income from Other Sources”.
Gifts are also taxed under this head.
Family pension.
Different interest incomes (eg. interest income from post office savings account, bank savings account, bank fixed deposit, etc.).
Interest received from IT Dept. on delayed refunds.
Insurance commission.
Income from letting out of machinery, plant, or furniture.
Income from royalty.
Any sum received under a Keyman Insurance Policy including bonus.
Director’s commission for standing as guarantor to bankers.
Remuneration received by Members of Parliament.
Income from sub-letting of House Property by a tenant, etc.
This is an inclusive list and not an exhaustive list. Please note that Agricultural income is exempt from tax so it will not fall under any of the heads of income. It will be mentioned as exempt income while e-filing the Income Tax Return.
In addition to the above, the following incomes are charged to tax under this head, if not taxed under the head “Profits and Gains of Business or Profession.”
Any contribution to a fund for the welfare of employees received by the employer.
Income from
Interest on securities.
Letting out or hiring of plant, machinery or furniture.
Letting out of plant, machinery or furniture along with building where both the lettings are inseparable.
Any sum received under a Keyman Insurance Policy including bonus.
Taxability of Income from Other Sources or IFOS
Taxability of incomes falling under this head may differ as per their nature. Let’s have a look at the tax treatment on some of these incomes:
Taxability of Gifts under Income from Other Sources
Gifts can mainly be classified under following categories:
Monetary gifts.
Movable properties received without consideration or without adequate consideration.
Immovable properties received without consideration or without adequate consideration.
Some of the money received as gifts will be exempt if the aggregate value of such received during a financial year does not exceed INR 50,000.
Any property received without consideration and total fair market value of such properties received throughout the year does not exceed INR 50,000.
Gifts received from relatives*
On the occasion of the marriage.
Under will/by way of inheritance.
In contemplation of death of the payer.
From local authority.
A fund, foundation, university, other educational institution, hospitals, or any trust or institution defined in Section 10(23C).
Amount received from a charitable trust registered under Section 12AA.
*Relatives for this purpose means:
1. Spouse of the individual
2. Brother or sister of the individual
3. Brother or sister of the spouse of the individual
4. Brother or sister of either of the parents of the individual
5. Any lineal ascendant or descendent of the individual
6. Any lineal ascendant or descendent of the spouse of the individual
7. Spouse of the person referred to in (b) to (f)
Tax Treatment of Amount received from Life Insurance Policy
Any amount received under Life Insurance policy, including any bonus amount, is exempt from tax under section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act. A few important points to be noted with regards to this exemption:
Exemption is available only in respect of amount received from Life Insurance policy.
Exemption is available only if amount of premium paid on such policy for a particular financial year does not exceed 20% (10% in respect of policies taken on or after 1st April, 2012) of the actual capital sum assured. Please note that any amount received on death of the policyholder will continue to be exempt without any conditions.
While calculating the actual sum assured, any premium amount agreed to be returned or any of the benefits by way of bonus shall not be considered.
Example
Pratik has taken a Life Insurance policy on 15th December 2014. The total sum assured is INR 50,00,000 and the annual premium is INR 82,000. The policy will mature in the year 2026 and the maturity amount will be INR 10,00,000.
Now in the event of Pratik’s death, the amount sum assured of INR 50,00,000 received by the nominee will be completely exempt.
In any other case, the amount received from the policy will be exempt if the annual premium of the financial year does not exceed 10% of the capital sum assured. Here the capital sum assured is INR 50,00,000 so 10% of 50,00,000 comes to INR 5,00,000. The annual premium paid by Pratik is only INR 82,000 so nothing will be taxable if money is received in an event other than death.
Tax Treatment for Dividend Income
Dividend income is chargeable under this head. However, it will be completely exempt if it is received from a company that was applicable to dividend distribution tax under section 115O of the Income Tax Act.
This exempt dividend will be mentioned under exempt income while e-filing the Income Tax Return.
Dividend received from co-operative societies or foreign companies will be completely taxable.
Tax Treatment for Interest Income
Taxability of interest income may vary, depending on the nature of interest income.
Although Interest on the savings bank account is taxable, deduction u/s 80TTA is available for a maximum limit of INR 10,000.
Interest earned on tax-free bonds is completely exempt.
Interest on Fixed deposit and recurring deposits is completely taxable. If the total interest income from such sources exceeds INR 10,000, then the banks will deduct the TDS @ 10%. (@ 20% if the PAN is not provided).
Interest on Public Provident Fund (PPF) account is completely exempt.
Any interest earned on the post office saving bank account is exempt upto a certain extent. In case of Individual account, interest is exempt upto INR 3500 & in case of Joint account, interest is exempt upto INR 7000.
Can I claim any expenses from Incomes from Other Sources or IFOS?
Yes, the following are some of the deductions available from income chargeable to tax under the head Income from Other Sources or IFOS:
Any commission or remuneration paid for realizing dividend (taxable dividend) or interest on securities.
Any current repairs, insurance premium, and depreciation in respect of plant, machinery, building, and furniture are deductible from the rent income earned by letting out of such plant, machinery, building, and furniture.
In the case of family pension, the deduction is allowed for the lower of INR 15,000 or 1/3rd of such amount received in the nature of family pension.
Please note that no personal expenditure shall be allowed to be deducted from income chargeable under the head ‘Income from Other Sources’.
What tax deduction cannot be claimed under Income From Other Sources?
According to section 58 of the Income Tax Act, the following are deductions that cannnot be claimed during the computation of Income from Other Sources;
Amount mentioned as per section 40A
Any personal expenses
Amount paid towards wealth tax
Expenses associated with winnings from lotteries, races, crossword puzzles, games, gambling, or betting
A salary that is payable outside India on which tax is not deducted at the source
Any interest subject to tax that is payable outside India
FAQs
Is gift taxable as other income?
Gifts from relatives are exempt and any gifts received from non relatives are exempt upto an aggregate of Rs. 50,000 in a Financial year. Total value of gifts over and above Rs. 50,000 will be taxable under the head ‘Income from Other Sources’. Gifts received on the occasion of marriage are exempt from thax. Read here to know more about Gifts and thier taxability.
Can I claim any deductions on family pension?
As per Income Tax Act, you can claim a standard deduction of 1/3rd of the amount of family pension received subject to maximum of Rs. 15,000 annually.
Is lottery prize taxable?
Yes, lottery winnings are liable to flat rate of tax at 30% without any basic exemption limit. Thus in such a case the payer of prize money will generally deduct tax at source (i.e., TDS) from the winnings and will pay you only the balance amount.
