Withdrawal of tax benefits from SEZs to impact exports: Assocham

15 Jul 2011 Evaluate

Extraction of tax benefits from Special Economic Zones (SEZs) would have unfavorable impact on India’s export performance and it can also increase the Non-Performing Assets of banks and financial institutions which are engaged in financing these SEZs in different stages.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on July 14 said that developers have invested huge money in SEZs. If tax benefits are not given, there will be adverse impact on exports and economic sentiments by adding further chamber said that about Rs 30,000 crore worth of exposure that banks and financial institutions have given to SEZ projects under various stages of implementation may turn into non-performing assets.

The government has imposed 18.5% Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) on the book profits of SEZs and it has also levied Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) on the tax free enclaves. Due to imposed taxes, SEZs have lost their attractions as investment hubs and developers are seeking to close their projects. SEZs developers are also worried about the new draft of Direct Tax Code Bill (DTC). As per the revised draft DTC, which will replace the Income Tax Act of 1961, tax exemptions for SEZs will be confined to the existing units.
   
In the SEZs Act, units get 100 % tax exception on the profits made for the first five year, whereas developers get exemption for 10 years. Moreover, units get a 50% exemption for the next five years and another 50% exemption on reinvested profits in the following five years.

Assocham said that after the announcement of DTC, developers and financial investors have lost interest in SEZs. It said that by increasing exports from the zones, the government can also lower trade deficit and reduce risk on account of foreign exchange volatility on the back of high crude oil prices and rising import bill.

Assocham also called for speeding up consensus among various political parties so that issues like land acquisition and compensation can be sorted out to make passage for a new law. 'All stakeholders should be consulted so that more SEZs can come up to generate mass employment and boost exports,' Assocham added.

During 2010-11, exports from SEZs jumped by 43% to Rs 3,15,868 crore from 2009-10, a total of 6.76 crore employment was also generated.

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