In India, for the purpose of income tax, there is “Pay as you earn scheme”. As per such scheme, every person is required to pay tax through TDS/ TCS and advance tax, during the year only, in which the income has been earned. The rates of TDS are pre-determined and specified in the Income Tax Act, 1961. The aim of TDS is to collect tax from the very source of income. For resident individuals, TDS is required subject to some conditions, however, for non-resident individuals, TDS on all the payments made to non-resident individuals, which is chargeable to tax under the Act, has been made mandatory.
Let’s go into the TDS provisions in respect of various incomes of non-resident individual –
Salary income
TDS on salary income of a non-resident individual shall be deducted u/s 192 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 at the applicable slab rates. Tax liability for the whole year shall be calculated on the prospective salary income of the non-resident and such determined tax shall be then deducted from the payment to be made of salary, in twelve monthly instalments.
When to deduct TDS?
TDS shall be deducted at the time of making payment of salary income.
Capital Gains
Tax at source is required to be deducted on sale of property by non-resident individual, irrespective of the transaction value of property on below-mentioned rates –
Rate of TDS on sale of property held for more than two years – 20%
Rate of TDS on sale of property held for two years or less – Applicable slab rate
Surcharge and Cess will also be levied on the above amount.
When to deduct TDS?
TDS shall be deducted whenever any payment is made to the NRI for purchase of property. Even on payment of advance, TDS is required to be deducted.
Amount on which TDS is required to be deducted?
TDS on sale of property must be deducted on the capital gains. However, for this purpose, capital gains cannot be computed by the seller himself but should be computed by the Income Tax Officer. The seller shall make an application in Form 13 with the Income Tax Department and request them to compute the capital gains on the sales. In revert, income tax department will compute the capital gains and issue a certificate of Nil/ Lower deduction of TDS, specifying the rate at which TDS is ought to be deducted by the buyer. The seller can also furnish the details of any deduction which he is eligible to claim. Effect of such deduction will also be taken and a lower rate of TDS will be derived.
Hence, the seller will furnish such certificate to the buyer and then the buyer will deduct TDS on the rate mentioned therein. If the seller fails to obtain such certificate from the department then, TDS shall be deducted at the pre-specified rate that too on the total sales price and not on the capital gains.
Income under the head Other Sources and Business/ Profession
> Some specific Interest Incomes On incomes of non-resident earned by way of – Interest from Indian company (Section 194LC) Interest on certain bonds and Government securities (Section 194LD) Interest from infrastructure debt fund (Section 194LB) rate of TDS applicable shall be 5%. Such concessional rate is introduced to encourage investment of non-residents into above mentioned funds/ securities.
When to deduct TDS?
TDS shall be deducted at the time of credit of such income to the account of the non-resident or at the time of payment, whichever is earlier. Payment can be made in any way whether in cash or by cheque, draft or any other mode.
> Any other Income
On payment of any sum to a non-resident which qualifies as income as per the provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961, tax shall be deducted on payment of such sum under the authority of Section 195 at the rate in force. Tax has to be deducted on payments made to non-residents irrespective of any threshold limit. If income of the non-resident is taxable in India, then the payer needs to deduct TDS u/s 195.
When to deduct TDS?
TDS shall be deducted at the time of credit of such income to the account of the non-resident or at the time of payment, whichever is earlier. However, if income constitutes interest payable by Government, public sector bank or public financial institution, then deduction shall be made only at the time of payment.
Thus, proper mechanism of deduction of tax at source has been framed by the government not just to ensure that the individual pays tax on the income as and when earned, but also to make sure that no income of the non-resident escapes from being taxed, if it is liable to be taxed.