After backlash, government to review budget move to tax 60% of employee built EPF

NEW DELHI: Facing a torrent of criticism over the Budget proposal to tax part of the Employees' Provident Fund, the government sought to take some of the sting out of its move, saying that it would only affect top salary earners and defending the step as a measure to create a pensioned society.

A press release issued by the government indicated there would be no rollback. However, it left itself some wriggle room by saying all the suggestions that have been made will be considered.

On the other hand, a senior ministry official said tax wouldn't be levied on 60% of the corpus, as stated in the Budget and reiterated in the press release, but on the interest accrued.

He also added that there would be no cap of Rs 1.5 lakh on the employer's contribution as had been proposed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget on Monday.

"Only the interest component will be liable to tax," the official told ET.

There is no change in the status of Public Provident Fund ( PPF), which will continue to enjoy the 'EEE' or 'exempt, exempt, exempt' status at the stages of investment, accumulation and withdrawal.

"We have noted concerns about changes in tax treatment for EPF/PPF/NPS (National Pension Scheme)," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha had said in a tweet earlier in the day before the government issued its clarification. 

The government said it's considering representations it has received and Jaitley will respond to them in his reply on the Finance Bill.

"We have received representations today from various sections suggesting that if the amount of 60% of corpus is not invested in the annuity products, the tax should be levied only on accumulated returns on the corpus and not on the contributed amount," the ministry said.

"We have also received representations asking for not having any monetary limit on the employer contribution under EPF, because such a limit is not there in NPS. Finance minister would be considering all these suggestions and taking a view on it in due course."

The Budget proposal had been regarded by many as undermining the retirement prospects of salaried employees but the official cited above said the reasoning behind the move had nothing to do with resource mobilisation.

"We want people to move towards a pension," the official said. For those with a monthly salary in excess of Rs 15,000, the Budget said that 40% of the EPF corpus could be withdrawn tax-free but that the rest would be liable to tax unless it was invested in buying an annuity.

Low earners won't be hit In the press release, which restated the Budget position, the finance ministry said the new provision will not affect 3 crore EPF subscribers having a monthly income less than Rs 15,000, who will continue to enjoy 100% exemption on withdrawals. It said the EPF scheme had been set up to cater to such wage earners.

"Out of around 3.7 crore contributing members of EPFO as on today, around 3 crore subscribers are in this category. For this category of people, there is not going to be any change in the new dispensation," it said.

It said about 60 lakh contributing members who have voluntarily accepted EPF are highly paid private sector employees. The changes will apply to these people, according to the press statement.

"What we  are saying is that such employee can withdraw without tax liability provided he contributes 60% in annuity product so that pension security can be created for him according to his earning level," it said. "So what it means is that the entire corpus will be tax-free, if invested in annuity."

The Economic Survey presented before the Budget had alluded to the rich taking advantage of tax exemptions meant for those not so well-off.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/