In a bid to boost digital payments, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that government will offer tax benefits to small scale business engaged in cashless transactions. He said that the move would enable small businesses having annual turnover of Rs 2 crore to save up to 30 percent in tax payments. He also said that small traders will be able to save up to 46 percent in tax by migrating from cash to digital transactions as the decision to tweak the presumptive income norms would reduce tax liability.
Jaitley further said that apart from making a tax saving of almost 46 percent by migrating to banking mode, the small businesses would be able to build their books which may also help them get bank loans easily. Also, if transactions are carried out through banking channels, then anybody having annual turnover up to Rs 66 lakhs will have zero tax liability after availing the benefit of Section 80C, after amendment of this new rate structure. He said in the Budget for 2016-17, small traders and businessmen, with turnover of up to Rs 2 crore who did not maintain proper accounts, were presumed to have earned 8 percent income or profit for tax purposes. But if they use digital mode of payments, their income will now be presumed to be 6 percent of the turnover and not 8 percent.
Following the demonetization, the government has taken several steps to encourage digital payments like discount of 0.75 percent will be offered for those who purchase petrol and diesel through digital mode. Moreover, public sector insurance companies, general and life insurance, will provide 10 percent and 8 percent discount for buying new policy or paying premium online via PSUs websites. Further, government also unveiled two lucky draw schemes to reward poor and middle-class consumers and small businesses for conducting cashless transactions.
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