## Report on Income-tax Notification S.O. 1854(E) Regarding Pension Fund Exemption
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes Notification S.O. 1854(E) issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, Central Board of Direct Taxes on May 13, 2021. This notification specifies the Public Sector Pension Investment Board as a "specified person" under Section 10(23FE) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, allowing for a tax exemption on eligible investments made in India. The exemption is subject to several conditions related to regulatory compliance, investment practices, and use of earnings. The report details these conditions, the target audience, and expected outcomes based solely on the provided notification text.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Notification S.O. 1854(E), a policy document pertaining to income tax regulations in India. The analysis is strictly based on the provided text of the notification and aims to inform affected parties about the key provisions and implications of this policy.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This is a *new* policy specifying a particular entity for existing tax exemptions.
* **Core Objective:** The core objective is to specify the Public Sector Pension Investment Board as eligible for income tax exemption under Section 10(23FE) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, concerning investments made in India.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
As a new policy specifying the Public Sector Pension Investment Board as eligible for an existing tax exemption, this policy likely addresses the government's intent to attract foreign investment from specific pension funds. By clarifying eligibility criteria and specifying this particular entity, the policy facilitates the flow of foreign pension funds into the Indian market. This likely aims to boost economic growth and investment in India, while ensuring accountability through several investment and reporting conditions.
**5. Key Provisions:**
The notification establishes the following key provisions:
* **Eligibility for Exemption:** The Public Sector Pension Investment Board is specified as a "specified person" eligible for tax exemption under Section 10(23FE) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, for eligible investments in India.
* **Investment Timeline:** The exemption applies to investments made on or after the date of the notification's publication (May 13, 2021) and on or before March 31, 2024.
* **Compliance Requirements:** The pension fund must fulfill several conditions to maintain eligibility:
* File income tax returns for relevant previous years.
* Furnish a certificate in Form No. 10BBC from an accountant regarding compliance with Section 10(23FE).
* Intimate investment details in Form No. 10BBB quarterly.
* Maintain a segmented account of income and expenditure for exempted investments.
* Continue to be regulated under Canadian law.
* Administer assets for statutory obligations and defined contributions to retirement or similar plans.
* Limit other asset usage (beyond statutory obligations) to a maximum of ten percent of total assets, with those assets wholly owned and vested in the Government of Canada.
* Use earnings and assets solely for statutory obligations, without benefiting any private person.
* Earnings from assets outside of the stated purpose must be credited to the Government of Canada or its designated account.
* Refrain from loans or borrowings for investments in India.
* Avoid participating in the day-to-day operations of the investee, with the exception of monitoring mechanisms.
* **Violation of Conditions:** Violation of any stipulated conditions will render the assessee ineligible for the tax exemption.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience is:
* The Public Sector Pension Investment Board.
* Accountants providing certifications (Form 10BBC).
* The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
* The Government of Canada.
* Indian entities receiving investment (investees).
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, is responsible for administering and overseeing the implementation of this notification.
* **Timelines:**
* Investments must be made between May 13, 2021, and March 31, 2024, to be eligible.
* Investment details must be reported quarterly via Form No. 10BBB within one month of the quarter's end.
* Annual compliance must be certified via Form No. 10BBC along with the income tax return.
* The policy requires specific reporting procedures (Forms 10BBC and 10BBB) and adherence to defined investment practices.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The intended outcomes of this policy are likely to:
* Attract investment from the Public Sector Pension Investment Board into the Indian market.
* Increase foreign investment in India.
* Generate economic growth and development through investments in various sectors.
* Ensure that the pension fund's investments align with the Indian government's economic objectives.
* Maintain transparency and accountability through stringent reporting requirements.
**9. Conclusion:**
Notification S.O. 1854(E) specifies the Public Sector Pension Investment Board as eligible for income tax exemption under Section 10(23FE) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, subject to specific conditions. This policy aims to encourage foreign investment in India while ensuring compliance and transparency. The notification outlines investment timelines, compliance requirements, and restrictions on investment practices. Adherence to these provisions is crucial for the Public Sector Pension Investment Board to avail of the tax exemption and for the Indian government to achieve its intended economic objectives.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Finance: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for financial matters.
Department of Revenue: A department within the Ministry of Finance.
Central Board of Direct Taxes: An organization under the Department of Revenue responsible for direct tax administration.
Income-tax Act, 1961: The primary law governing income tax in India.
Public Sector Pension Investment Board: A pension fund specified as the assessee for the purposes of clause 23FE of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
India: The country where the eligible investment is made.
Government of Canada: The government under whose law the assessee (Public Sector Pension Investment Board) is regulated.
Income-tax Rules, 1962: Rules pertaining to the Income-tax Act.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-13052021-226988
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-13052021-226988
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1727] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतिार, मई 13, 2021/ििै ाख 23, 1943
No. 1727] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021/VAISAKHA 23, 1943
जित्त मंत्रालय
(रािस्ट्ि जिभाग)
(केंद्रीय प्रत्यक्ष कर बोड)ड
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 13 मई, 2021
(आय-कर)
का.आ. 1854(अ).—केंद्रीय सरकार, आय-कर अजधजनयम, 1961 (1961 का 43) (जिसे इसमें इसके पश्चात ्
“अजधजनयम” कहा गया ह)ै के खंड (23चङ) के स्ट्पष्टीकरण 1 के खंड (ग) के उपखंड (iv) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते
हुए, पेंिन जनजध अर्ाडत,् पजललक सैक्टर पेंिन इनिेस्ट्टमेंट बोड,ड (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात ् “जनधाडररती” कहा गया ह)ै को,
उि खंड के प्रयोिनों के जलए रािपत्र म ें इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख को या उसके पश्चात ् ककंतु 31 माच,ड 2024
को या उससे पूिड भारत म ें उसके द्वारा दकए गए पात्र जिजनधान (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात ् “उि जिजनधान” कहा गया ह)ै के
संबंध म,ें जनम्नजलजखत ितों को पूरा करन े के अधीन रहत े हुए, जिजनर्िष्टड व्यजि के रूप म ेंजिजनर्िष्टड करती ह,ै अर्ाडत ् :--
(i) जनधाडररती, उस तारीख स े प्रारंभ होने िाली अिजध, जिसम ें उि जिजनधान दकया गया ह,ै और उस तारीख को,
जिसको ऐसा जिजनधान पररसमाप्त दकया गया ह,ै समाप्त होने िाली अिजध के अंतगडत आने िाल े सभी सुसंगत
2617 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
पूिडिती िर्षों के जलए अजधजनयम की धारा 139 की उपधारा (1) के अधीन आय की जििरणी प्रस्ट्तुत करने की
जिजनर्िष्टड िये तारीख को या उससे पूिड आय की जििरणी फाइल करेगा ।
(ii) जनधाडररती ऐसी जििरणी के सार् जित्त िर्षड के िौरान, अजधजनयम की धारा 10 के खंड (23चङ) के उपबंधों की
अनुपालना के संबंध में आय-कर जनयम, 1962 के जनयम 2घख के खंड (vi) के उपबंधों के अनसु ार अजधजनयम की
धारा 288 की उपधारा (2) के नीच े स्ट्पष्टीकरण म ें यर्ा पररभाजर्षत दकसी लेखपाल स े प्ररूप सं 10खखग म ें एक
प्रमाणपत्र प्रस्ट्तुत करेगा ।
(iii) जनधाडररती भारत म ें जतमाही के िौरान उसके द्वारा दकए गए प्रत्येक जिजनधान के संबंध म ें लयौरों की सूचना
जतमाही के िौरान जतमाही के अंत से एक मास के भीतर आय-कर जनयम, 1962 के जनयम 2घख के खंड (v) के
उपबंधों के अनुसार प्ररूप स.ं 10 खखख म ें िेगा;
(iv) जनधाडररती, ऐस े जिजनधानों के संबंध म,ें िो अजधजनयम की धारा 10 के खंड (23चङ) के अधीन छूट के जलए अर्हतड
ह,ैं के संबंध म ें आय और व्यय का खंडिार लेखा बनाए रखेगा ।
(v) जनधाडररती कनाडा सरकार की जिजध के अधीन जिजनयजमत होता रहगे ा ।
(vi) जनधाडररती, यर्ासज् र्जत, ऐसी जनजधयों या योिनाओं के भागीिारों या जहताजधकाररयों के जलए सेिाजनिृत्जत,
सामाजिक सुरक्षा, रोिगार, दिव्यांग्ता, मरणोतत् र प्रसुजिधाएं या कोई समरूप प्रजतकर का उपबंध करन े के जलए
सर्् ाजपत एक या अजधक जनजधयों या योिनाओं की कानूनी बाध्यताओं और पररभाजर्षत अजभिायों को पूरा करन े
के जलए आजस्ट्तयों के प्रिासन या जिजनधान के जलए उत्तरिायी होगा;
(vii) जनधाडररती द्वारा जनिेजित और जनिेजित पररसंपजत्तयों के कुल मूल्य का िस प्रजतित स े अजधक नहीं खंड (vi) में
सूचीबद्ध उद्देश्य के अलािा प्रयोिनार्ड अनुमेय बिते ऐसी पररसंपजत्तयााँ पूण ड रूप स े प्रत्यक्ष या परोक्ष रूप स े
कनाडा सरकार के स्ट्िाजमत्ि म ेहो और ऐसी पररसंपजत्तयााँ जिधरन पर कनाडा सरकार म ेजनजहत ह ै।
(viii) जनधाडररती के उपािडनों और आजस्ट्तयों का उपयोग केिल कानूनी बाध्यताओं को और खंड (vi) म ें जनर्िष्टड जनजधयों
या योिनाओं के सहभाजगयों या फायिाग्राजहयों के जलए पररभाजर्षत अजभिायों को पूरा करन े के जलए दकया िाए
तर्ा पेंिन जनजध के उपािडनों या आजस्ट्तयों का कोई भाग दकसी अन्य प्राइिेट व्यजि के दकसी फायिा को भारत म ें
जिजनधान करने के प्रयोिन स े जभन्न प्रयोिनों के जलए जलए गए ऋण या उधार [अजधजनयम की धारा 10 के खंड
23चङ के स्ट्पष्टीकरण 2 के खंड (ii) के उपखंड (ख) में यर्ापररभाजर्षत] के जलए लेनिारों या जनक्षेपकताडओं को दकए
गए दकसी संिाय को िर्िडत करते हुए लाग ूनहीं होता ह;ै
(ix) खंड (vii) म े संिर्भडत आय तर्ा पररसंपजत्तयों का उपयोग खंड (viii) म े सूचीबद्ध उद्देश्य के अलािा प्रयोिनार्ड
दकया िा सकता ह ै । बिते उि आय को या तो कनाडा सरकार के खाते म े िमा दकया िाए अर्िा सरकार द्वारा
नाजमत दकसी अन्य खाते म,ें तादक अन्य जनिी व्यजि को आय का कोई भी भाग लाभाजन्ित न कर सके ।
(x) जनधाडररती के पास भारत म ें जिजनधान करन े के प्रयोिनों के जलए, प्रत्यक्षत: या अप्रत्यक्षत: कोई ऋण या उधार
[अजधजनयम की धारा 10 के खंड (23चङ) के स्ट्पष्टीकरण-2 के खंड (ii) के उपखंड (ख) म ें यर्ापररभाजर्षत] नहीं
होगा;
(xi) जनधाडररती जिजनधान प्राप्तकता ड [अजधजनयम की धारा 10 खंड 23चङ) के स्ट्पष्टीकरण-2 के खंड (i) म ें
यर्ापररभाजर्षत] के दिन प्रजतदिन की संदियाओं म ें भाग नहीं लेगा पंरत ु जिजनधान प्राप्तकताड के पास जिजनधान की
संरक्षा करन े के जलए मॉनीटरी तंत्र को, जिसमें जनिेिकों या कायडपालक जनिेिक को जनयुि करने के अजधकार
सजममजलत ह,ै जिजनधान प्राप्तकता डके दिन प्रजतदिन की संदियाओं म ेंभाग लेना नहीं समझा िाएगा ।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
2. अजधजनयम की धारा 10 के खंड (23चङ) और इस अजधसूचना म ें यर्ा उजल्लजखत ितों में स े दकसी भी ित ड का उल्लघं न
जनधाडररती को कर छूट के जलए अपात्र ठहराएगा ।
3. यह अजधसूचना रािपत्र म ेंउसके प्रकािन की तारीख स े प्रिृत्त होगी ।
[अजधसूचना स.ं 64/2021/फा.स.ं 370142/40/2020-टीपीएल]
कमलेि चंद्र िार्ष्णेय, संयुि सजचि (कर नीजत और जिधान प्रभाग)
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th May 2021
(INCOME-TAX)
S.O. 1854(E).—In exercise of powers conferred by sub-clause (iv) of clause (c) of the Explanation 1 to
clause (23FE) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43of 1961) (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”), the Central
Government hereby specifies the pension fund, namely, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, (hereinafter
referred to as “the assessee”) as the specified person for the purposes of the said clause in respect of the eligible
investment made by it in India on or after the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette but on or
before the 31st day of March, 2024 (hereinafter referred to as “said investments”) subject to the fulfillment of the
following conditions, namely:-
(i) the assessee shall file return of income, for all the relevant previous years falling within the period
beginning from the date in which the said investment has been made and ending on the date on which
such investment is liquidated, on or before the due date specified for furnishing the return of income
under sub-section (1) of section 139 of the Act;
(ii) the assessee shall furnish along with such return a certificate in Form No. 10BBC in respect of
compliance to the provisions of clause (23FE) of section 10, during the financial year, from an accountant
as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 of the Act, as per the provisions of
clause (vi) of rule 2DB of the Income-tax Rules,1962;
(iii) the assessee shall intimate the details in respect of each investment made by it in India during the quarter
within one month from the end of the quarter in Form No. 10BBB, as per the provisions of clause (v) of
rule 2DB Income-tax Rules,1962;
(iv) the assessee shall maintain a segmented account of income and expenditure in respect of such investment
which qualifies for exemption under clause (23FE) of section 10 of the Act;
(v) the assessee shall continue to be regulated under the law of the Government of Canada;
(vi) the assessee shall be responsible for administering or investing the assets for meeting the statutory
obligations and defined contributions of one or more funds or plans established for providing retirement,
social security, employment, disability, death benefits or any similar compensation to the participants or
beneficiaries of such funds or plans, as the case may be;
(vii) not more than ten per cent. of the total value of the assets administered or invested by the assessee are
allowed for the purpose other than the purpose listed at clause (vi) provided such assets are wholly owned
directly or indirectly by the Government of Canada and such assets vest in the Government of Canada
upon dissolution;
(viii) the earnings and assets of the assessee should be used only for meeting statutory obligations and defined
contributions for participants or beneficiaries of funds or plans referred to in clause (vi) and no portion of
the earnings or assets of the pension fund inures any benefit to any other private person; barring any
payment made to creditors or depositors for loan or borrowing [as defined in sub-clause (b) of clause (ii)
of Explanation 2 to clause (23FE) of section 10 of the Act] taken for the purposes other than for making
investment in India;
(ix) the earnings from assets referred to in clause (vii) may be used for purpose other than the purpose listed
as in clause (viii) provided that the said earnings are credited either to the account of Government of4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
Canada or any other account designated by such Government so that no portion of the earnings inures any
benefit to any private person;
(x) the assessee shall not have any loans or borrowings [as defined in sub-clause (b) of clause (ii) of
Explanation 2 to clause (23FE) of section 10 of the Act], directly or indirectly, for the purposes of making
investment in India; and
(xi) the assessee shall not participate in the day to day operations of investee [as defined in clause (i) of
Explanation 2 to clause (23FE) of section 10 of the Act] but the monitoring mechanism to protect the
investment with the investee including the right to appoint directors or executive director shall not be
considered as participation in the day to day operations of the investee.
2. Violation of any of the conditions as stipulated in the said clause (23FE) of section 10 of the Act and this
notification shall render the assessee ineligible for the tax exemption.
3. This notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
[Notification No. 64/2021/ F. No. 370142/40/2020-TPL]
KAMLESH CHANDRA VARSHNEY, Jt. Secy. (Tax Policy and Legislation Division)
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.