Empowering AIFs can bring capital for start- ups and have positive spillover effects on economy, say investors
The Alternative Investment Funds ( AIF) sector, comprising private equity ( PE) and venture capital ( VC) entities, is expecting Budget 2016 to align the tax rate for listed and unlisted market transactions.
Currently, capital gains tax on investments in publicly listed companies are treated as long- term capital gains ( LTCG) and taxed at zero per cent if held for over a year, and as short- term capital gains and taxed at 15 per cent if held for less than a year.
However, in an unlisted company (or start- up), while investments for over three years are considered longterm and attract a tax of 20 per cent, investments of less than three years fall under short- term capital gains and are taxed at 33 per cent. This, the AIF sector says, acts as a deterrent to investing in riskier assets.
According to Saurabh Srivastava, co- founder, Indian Angel Network, investments by AIFs and angel groups in unlisted companies carry ahigher risk and the holdings are illliquid — an investor cannot pull out its money overnight. Unlisted companies also create jobs and contribute to economic growth, he adds.
At least, Securities and Exchange Board of India ( Sebi)- registered Category- I AIFs need to be treated on a par with investors in the public market, he says. Category- I AIFs have positive spillover effects on the economy, and include VCs, small and medium enterprises funds, social venture funds and infrastructure funds, which are close ended.
Moreover, it would end the discrimination against domestic funds, as foreign funds pay zero tax through treaties with Mauritius and other countries, the sector says.
Gopal Srinivasan, chairman and managing director of home- grown PE fund TVS Capital Funds, terms it a punitive tax rate. “ It imposes a three- year hold period for private capital, which is patient, takes significant risks and remains illiquid, while the liquid and fickle public market investments are allowed to enjoy zero rates under LTCG for holding investment for just ayear,” he says.
Srinivasan urged the government to empower AIFs to efficiently provide capital for start- ups to stand up, for companies to grow and go beyond.
Experts also want amendments to the pass- through rules enacted in last year’s Budget for taxation of AIFs, to make it more effective and avoid double taxation. The passthrough system ensures investors do not pay more tax than they would, had they made the investments directly themselves.
Subramaniam Krishnan, tax partner, EY, says tax deduction at source ( TDS) rules for foreign investors investing in AIFs need to be aligned with tax treaty rates. A TDS of 10 per cent is prescribed for all investors, irrespective of income.
Other suggestions include allowing tax pass- through for net losses incurred by AIFs, exemption from ‘ angel tax’, and addressing concerns on the General Anti- Avoidance Rules due to take effect from April 1, 2017. Besides, amending the safe harbour rules for onshore fund managers of offshore PE/ VC firms under Section 9A of the Income Tax Act would make it more effective, add experts. Currently, most fund managers of offshore funds manage their investments from offshore locations rather than from India, which results in our losing employment avenues and tax revenue.
According to Srivastava, these changes and recent measures of Sebi to enable more ease of doing business and a fund of Rs.10,000 crore would help investors perform better. Almost 90 per cent of VC money comes from abroad and can dry up, based on investor sentiment.
Further, foreign capital prefers later stage risk. Hence, to ensure start- up funding, encouraging domestic sources of VC money is crucial, he adds.
Business Standard, New Delhi, 25th February 2016
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