Archive for July, 2007

Income Tax Dept India gearing up to check tax evasion

Saturday, July 21st, 2007

The Income Tax Department is gearing up to prepare a 360-degree tax profiling of individual tax payers in the country to keep a tab on tax
evasion and money laundering.

“Finance inister has given a go-ahead for integrated 360-degree mapping of individual tax payers by utilising data collected from various sources
like annual information returns (AIRs) from banks, credit cards, mutual funds, stock market and property registrars,” a senior Finance Ministry
official said.

Only esterday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said that in the meeting of chief income tax commissioners, decision has been taken for
integrated tax mapping. He, however, declined to give details about the project.

Sources said fter a successful pilot project on integrated tax profiling in Delhi, the I-T department also has plans to prepare a huge data bank that
would have all sorts of information on potential tax evading individuals and corporate houses.

The overnment has so far gathered information about Rs 60,00,000 crore investment by tax payers through AIRs. Under the tax mapping, the
department plans to explore cases involving large scale tax evasion.

The ources said the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the ministry will also provide information about potential tax evaders, as it
collects and analyses information about financial transactions through banks and other financial institutions.

Biometric PAN cards to arrive shortly

Saturday, July 21st, 2007

Press Trust of India / New Delhi July 17, 2007

All the new income tax payers in the country will soon begin to get biometric permanent account number (PAN) cards with enhanced security features like fingerprints or retinal scans, aimed at checking duplicate cards and better tax compliance.

“The process of eliminating about 13 lakh duplicate PAN cards is in last mile. Once that process is completed, which will happen shortly, we will set a date, after which all new PAN cards will only be biometric,” Finance Minister P Chidambaram said after inaugurating a Chief Income Tax Commissioners conference.

When asked whether the date of launching biometric PANs could be October, he said, “it could be.”

Referring to the fate of current PAN card holders, Chidambaram said, “they will be persuaded to switch over to biometric PAN cards in their own interest. The earlier PAN cards will, of course, remain valid.”

Finance Ministry had set up an internal group to finalise the norms for introduction of biometric PANs.

The ministry is hoping to introduce iris-based biometric PAN cards to all new applicants once the present PAN data is updated.

Chidambaram also said it has been decided in the meeting that there will be “integrated 360-degree profiling of individual tax payers,” declining to give details.

Sources , however, said it will involve collaboration of tax payers’ information regarding bank accounts, credit cards, mutual fund investment, purchase of property and shares to investigate tax evasion.

Source : Business Standard

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia - Chartered Accountants Program

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

The Institute’s education and training pathway is recognised as the best in the field and the preferred choice for industry professionals.

The Chartered Accountants Program combines innovative postgraduate training with mentored work experience to produce accountants with superior technical skills, real business ability and an exciting future. The technical knowledge you acquire in the Chartered Accountants Program fits you for a role as a business adviser anywhere you choose.

The training for CAs in India is a highly elaborate procedure

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

The training for CAs is a highly elaborate procedure. Aspiring chartered accountants should pass the intermediate exam within ten years of the commencement of their practical training.

During the training period candidates would be required to work in different areas learning the basics of auditing and taxation. This enables them to learn the technical details of the job as well as to get an idea of the working environment of the profession. During this period the articled clerk will also need to continue studies for the CA exam. As the professional training for chartered accountancy is training-on-the-job, an articled clerk is entitled to receive a minimum monthly stipend.

After successful completion of the final exam, the aspiring CA can apply for membership of the ICAI. All members are deemed Associate members of the institute. Associate members who have been in practice for a minimum of 5 years and possess the experience prescribed by the council for this purpose are entitled to apply for Fellowship.

Chartered Accountants are sometimes appointed as executors under a will or trust in order to carry out the administration of an estate or settlements. On such assignments, they are often required to work in co-operation with solicitors and lawyers.

CAs also perform functions under special positions such as directorships of companies, arbitrators for settling disputes, handling work related to insolvency, bankruptcy, etc. They are free to go in either for professional practice or to be employed by the industry sector (private companies, public sector undertakings, etc.)

Registration of Director’s DSC - Digital Signature Certificate in India

Saturday, July 7th, 2007

mca-portal.jpgStep by step process to be followed for registration of Director’s DSC is as under:

  1. Click on the ‘Register DSC’ link available on the MCA portal homepage.
  2. On the next screen, click on the ‘Director’ link on the left hand panel and fill-up your DIN. Please ensure that the DIN is approved and typed correctly.
  3. System shall verify that the DIN is valid and approved. If the DIN is filled incorrectly or DIN filled is not approved, system will throw an error message to that effect.
  4. Fill-up rest of the particulars and ensure that details filled are as per DIN- 1. If the applicant has filed DIN-4, then fill the details as submitted in DIN-4 form.
  5. Click on the ‘Next’ button. The system would verify the details.
  6. If the details filled do not match with DIN-1/ DIN-4, as the case may be, for the reason that you do not have your DIN application details, you can get the details from the company in which you are a director.
  7. If the details are correct, the system would prompt you to select the DSC.
  8. Click on the ‘Select Certificate’ button to browse and select the certificate. Please ensure that the selected DSC belongs to the applicant, whose particulars are being registered.
  9. System shall validate the DSC. If the selected DSC is already registered against given DIN, system will give an informatory message. If a different DSC is already registered against the given DIN, system will ask if the user wants to update his/ her DSC.
  10. Type the displayed system generated text for verification in the box provided.
  11. Click on ‘I agree’ button to agree to the declaration that details furnished are correct.
  12. Click on the ‘Submit’ button to register your DSC.
  13. Acknowledgement message is displayed to the user.
  14. User can take a print-out of the acknowledgement.
  15. The applicant can click on the ‘Reset’ function to clear the data in the fields.

If you havn’t obtained your DSC yet, please apply soon. Click for details

Director Identification Number Application - Step by step Process

Saturday, July 7th, 2007

The concept of a Director Identification Number (DIN) has been introduced for the first time with the insertion of Sections 266A to 266G of Companies (Amendment) Act, 2006. As such, all the existing and intending Directors have to obtain DIN within the prescribed time-frame as notified.Step by step Process

Step by step process to be followed by the applicant

Step I. Obtain provisional DIN

The applicant is required to fill-up and submit form DIN-1 online for obtaining provisional DIN. Form DIN-1 is available under ‘Apply for DIN’ tab on the left hand side panel under DIN’ link on the homepage of MCA portal.

For complete details and more steps please click here.

MCA21 Efiling / E-filing Process

Saturday, July 7th, 2007

Efiling

  1. User downloads the eform

  2. The users fill the appropriate eForm for the service required. There is an option of pre-fill facility in the eForms, where the static details such as name and address of the company will be pre-filled by the system automatically on entering the Corporate Identity Number (CIN).

  3. The users attach the necessary documents to the eform.

  4. The users may avail the pre-scrutiny service of the eForm. The documents will be verified (pre-scrutinised) by the system. In case of any inadequacies, for example, if a mandatory column in the eForm is not filled in, the user will be asked to rectify before the document is ready for execution (signature).

  5. The applicant or a representative of the applicant will then submit the duly signed documents electronically.

    dsc.jpg

  6. The system will calculate the fee, including late payment fees, if applicable.

  7. Payments will have to be made through appropriate mechanisms - electronic (credit card, Internet banking) or traditional means (at the Bank counter).

(a) Electronic payments can be made at the Virtual Front Office (VFO).

(b) If the user selects the traditional payment option, the system will generate a pre-filled Challanin the prescribed format. Traditional payments through cash, cheques can be done at the designated network of Banks using the system generated Challan. There will be five banks with estimated 200 branches authorised for accepting Challan payments.

  1. The payment will be exclusively confirmed for all online (Internet) payment transactions using payment gateways.

  2. Acceptance or rejection of any transaction will be explicitly communicated to the applicant (including facility to print a receipt for successful transactions).

  3. MCA21 will provide a unique transaction number, which can be used by the applicant for enquiring status pertaining to that transaction.

  4. Filing will be complete only when the necessary payments are made.

Source : mca.gov.in/

Mutual Fund - Glossary

Friday, July 6th, 2007


Net Asset Value (NAV)

Net Asset Value is the market value of the assets of the scheme minus its liabilities. The per unit NAV is the net asset value of the scheme divided by the number of units outstanding on the Valuation Date.
 
Sale Price

Is the price you pay when you invest in a scheme. Also called Offer Price. It may include a sales load.
 
Repurchase Price

Is the price at which a close-ended scheme repurchases its units and it may include a back-end load. This is also called Bid Price.

 
Redemption Price

Is the price at which open-ended schemes repurchase their units and close-ended schemes redeem their units on maturity. Such prices are NAV related.

 
Sales Load

Is a charge collected by a scheme when it sells the units. Also called, ‘Front-end’ load. Schemes that do not charge a load are called ‘No Load’ schemes.

 
Repurchase or ‘Back-end’ Load
Is a charge collected by a scheme when it buys back the units from the unit holders.

The Income-tax (8th Amendment) Rules, 2007 [No.208]

Friday, July 6th, 2007

NOTIFICATION NO. 208/2007

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 295, read with proviso to sub-section (3) of section 40A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Board of Direct Taxes hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Income-tax Rules, 1962, namely : -

1. (1) These rules may be called the Income-tax (8th Amendment) Rules, 2007.

(2) They shall come into force with effect from the assessment year 2008-09.

2. In the Income-tax Rules, 1962, for rule 6DD, the following rule shall be substituted, namely:

‘Cases and circumstances in which payment in a sum exceeding twenty thousand rupees may be made otherwise than by an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or account payee bank draft.

6DD. No disallowance under clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 40A shall be made and no payment shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession under clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 40A where any payment in a sum exceeding twenty thousand rupees is made otherwise than by an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or account payee bank draft in the cases and circumstances specified hereunder, namely:

(a) where the payment is made to

(i) the Reserve Bank of India or any banking company as defined in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949);

(ii) the State Bank of India or any subsidiary bank as defined in section 2 of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959);

(iii) any co-operative bank or land mortgage bank;

(iv) any primary agricultural credit society or any primary credit society as defined under section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949);

(v) the Life Insurance Corporation of India established under section 3 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 (31 of 1956);

(b) where the payment is made to the Government and, under the rules framed by it, such payment is required to be made in legal tender;

(c) where the payment is made by

(i) any letter of credit arrangements through a bank;

(ii) a mail or telegraphic transfer through a bank;

(iii) a book adjustment from any account in a bank to any other account in that or any other bank;

(iv) a bill of exchange made payable only to a bank;

(v) the use of electronic clearing system through a bank account;

(vi) a credit card;

(vii) a debit card.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause and clause (g), the term “bank” means any bank, banking company or society referred to in sub-clauses (i) to (iv) of clause (a) and includes any bank [not being a banking company as defined in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)], whether incorporated or not, which is established outside India;

(d) where the payment is made by way of adjustment against the amount of any liability incurred by the payee for any goods supplied or services rendered by the assessee to such payee;

(e) where the payment is made for the purchase of

(i) agricultural or forest produce; or

(ii) the produce of animal husbandry (including livestock, meat, hides and skins) or dairy or poultry farming; or

(iii) fish or fish products; or

(iv) the products of horticulture or apiculture,

to the cultivator, grower or producer of such articles, produce or products;

(f) where the payment is made for the purchase of the products manufactured or processed without the aid of power in a cottage industry, to the producer of such products;

(g) where the payment is made in a village or town, which on the date of such payment is not served by any bank, to any person who ordinarily resides, or is carrying on any business, profession or vocation, in any such village or town;

(h) where any payment is made to an employee of the assessee or the heir of any such employee, on or in connection with the retirement, retrenchment, resignation, discharge or death of such employee, on account of gratuity, retrenchment compensation or similar terminal benefit and the aggregate of such sums payable to the employee or his heir does not exceed fifty thousand rupees;

(i) where the payment is made by an assessee by way of salary to his employee after deducting the income-tax from salary in accordance with the provisions of section 192 of the Act, and when such employee -

(i) is temporarily posted for a continuous period of fifteen days or more in a place other than his normal place of duty or on a ship; and

(ii) does not maintain any account in any bank at such place or ship;

(j) where the payment was required to be made on a day on which the banks were closed either on account of holiday or strike;

(k) where the payment is made by any person to his agent who is required to make payment in cash for goods or services on behalf of such person;

(l) where the payment is made by an authorised dealer or a money changer against purchase of foreign currency or travellers cheques in the normal course of his business.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “authorised dealer” or “money changer” means a person authorised as an authorised dealer or a money changer to deal in foreign currency or foreign exchange under any law for the time being in force.’.

[F. No. 142/4/2007-TPL]

Now CAs can also do CFA

Friday, July 6th, 2007

After nearly two decades, the Institute of Chartered Financial
Analysts of India (ICFAI) has won the `chartered’ row against the ICAI
(Institute of Chartered Accountants of India).

In a decision dated May 16, the apex court ruled in favour of
the Hyderabad-based ICFAI, by setting aside an earlier verdict of the
Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had allowed the ICAI to prohibit its
members from using the description `Chartered Financial Analyst’ or its
abbreviation, CFA.

The dispute goes back to the late 1980s when the ICAI, the
premier accounting body headquartered in New Delhi, initiated action
under the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act against
the ICFAI, after having obtained the opinion of the Additional
Solicitor General of India in this regard.

ICSI to give profession a facelift

Friday, July 6th, 2007

NEW DELHI, JUL 4:  The profession of company secretaries is in for an image makeover with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) planning a series of measures, including renaming the intermediate and final papers as ‘executive’ and ‘professional’ programs, prefixing the word ‘CS’ before a professional’s name and even searching for a new name for itself.“For many years, ICSI has been receiving suggestions from members for changing the name of the Institute. The matter had also been taken up with the government on several occasions. Our council has now formally taken a decision to look into this and we have come out with a list of proposed names that can replace the existing one,” ICSI president Preeti Malhotra told FE.

At its meeting last month, the ICSI council had sought views and suggestions of members to a list of options that include either maintaining its current nomenclature or adopting a new one from among ‘Institute of Chartered Secretaries of India’, ‘Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Advisors of India’, ‘Institute of Corporate Secretaries of India’, ‘Institute of Corporate Secretaries and Advisors of India’ and ‘Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of India’. “It is an effort at international benchmarking,” Malhotra said, also pointing out to the recent name change of the ministry of company affairs (that governs the professional institutes in India) to ministry of corporate affairs.

Interestingly, the apex body governing the company secretarial profession in the UK is called ‘Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), a name that also figures in ICSI’s new plans.

Malhotra said that there was a lot of demand for company secretary students who were in demand even after completing their intermediate exams. “A CS intermediate is technically very sound and has knowledge of company and other corporate laws. A new branding would always help these professionals who for various reasons cannot complete their course,” she said.

Source

How should the e-TDS/TCS return be prepared?

Friday, July 6th, 2007

e-TDS/TCS return has to be prepared in the data format issued by e-Filing Administrator. This is available on the Income Tax Department website ( www.incometaxindia.gov.in ) and NSDL-TIN website (www.tin-nsdl.com). There is a validation software (File Validation Utility) available along with the data structure which should be used to validate the data structure of the e-TDS/TCS return prepared. The e-TDS/TCS return should have following features:

1. Each e-TDS/TCS return file should be in a separate CD/floppy.
2. Each e-TDS/TCS return file should be accompanied by a duly filled and signed (by an authorised signatory) Form No. 27A in physical form.
3. Each e-TDS/TCS return file should be in one CD/floppy. It should not span across multiple floppies.
4. In case the size of an e-TDS/TCS return file exceeds the capacity of one floppy, it should be filed on a CD.
5. If an e-TDS return file is required to be compressed, it should be compressed using Winzip 8.1 or ZipItFast 3.0 compression utility (or higher version thereof) to ensure quick and smooth acceptance of the file.
6. Label should be affixed on each CD/floppy mentioning name of the deductor, his TAN, Form no. (i.e . 24, 26 or 27) and period to which the return pertains.
7. There should not be any overwriting/striking on Form No. 27A. If there is any, then the same should be ratified by an authorised signatory.
8. No bank challan or copy of TDS/TCS certificate should be filed alongwith e-TDS/TCS return file.
9. In case of Form Nos. 26 & 27, deductor need not file physical copies of certificates of no deduction or lower deduction of TDS received from deductees.
10. In case of Form 24, deductor should file physical copies of certificates of no deduction or deduction of TDS at lower rate, if any, received from deductees. However, there is no such requirement in case of Form 24Q.
11. e-TDS/TCS return file should contain TAN of the deductor/collector without which, the return will not be accepted.
12. CD/floppy should be virus-free.

In case any of these requirements are not met, the e-TDS/TCS return will not be accepted at TIN-FCs.

Some Questions about e-TDS/TCS Return

Friday, July 6th, 2007

What is annual e-TDS/TCS Return?

Ans. Annual e-TDS/TCS return is the TDS return under section 206 of the Income Tax Act (prepared in Form Nos. 24, 26 or 27) or TCS return under section 206C of the Income Tax Act (prepared in Form No. 27E), which is prepared in electronic media as per prescribed data structure. Such returns furnished in a CD/floppy should be accompanied by a signed verification in Form No. 27A in case of Annual TDS returns or Form No. 27B in case of Annual TCS return.

What is quarterly e-TDS/TCS statement?

Ans. TDS/TCS returns filed in electronic form as per section 200(3)/206C, as amended by Finance Act, 2005, are quarterly TDS/TCS statements. As per the Income Tax Act, these quarterly statements are required to be furnished from FY 2005-06 onwards. The forms used for quarterly e-TDS statements are Form Nos. 24Q, 26Q and 27Q and for quarterly e-TCS statement is Form No. 27EQ. These statements filed in CD/floppy should be accompanied by a signed verification in Form No. 27A in case of both e-TDS/TCS statements.

Who is required to file e-TDS/TCS return?

Ans. As per Income Tax Act, 1961, all corporate and government deductors/collectors are compulsorily required to file their TDS/TCS returns on electronic media (i.e. e-TDS/TCS returns). However, deductors/collectors other than corporate/government can file either in physical or in electronic form.

e-TDS/TCS returns have been made mandatory for Government deductors. How do I know whether I am a Government deductor or not?

Ans. All Drawing and Disbursing Officers of Central and State Governments come under the category of Government deductors.

Under what provision should e-TDS/TCS returns be filed?

Ans. An e-TDS return should be filed under Section 206 of the Income Tax Act in accordance with the scheme dated August 26, 2003 for electronic filing of TDS return notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for this purpose. CBDT Circular No. 8 dated September 19, 2003 may also be referred. An e-TCS return should be filed under Section 206C of the Income Tax Act in accordance with the scheme dated March 30, 2005 for electronic filing of TCS return notified by the CBDT for this purpose. As per section 200(3)/206C, as amended by Finance Act 2005, deductors/collectors are required to file quarterly TDS/TCS statements from FY 2005-06 onwards.

Paying taxes has never been simpler with the authorities introducing the mechanism of online payment

Friday, July 6th, 2007

Paying taxes has never been simpler with the authorities introducing the mechanism of online payment. The use of electronic means to deliver services is not only an efficient and speedy process, but it also facilitates a transparent process for disseminating information and delivering it to the taxpayers of the nation.

Online payment of taxes helps you save time, is convenient and is paperless. You could be in office or at home ? the facility to pay taxes is just a click away. To use of this facility, all you need is an account with a bank that offers net banking and e-tax payment facility. SBI, HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank, UTI Bank and Union Bank of India are some banks that provide the e-tax payment facility.

The procedure for payment of taxes online is simple and the user-friendly instructions make it even more attractive. To start with, you need to log on to NSDL-TIN website (www.tin-nsdl.com) and click on the ?e-Tax-online payment? option. You will then be directed to a list of banks that provide the e-tax payment facility. Click on the option for your bank and choose the applicable tax challan.

If it is a tax deducted at source payment, challan no. 281 shall apply; else challan nos. 280, 282 or 283 shall be applicable. Challan no. 280 is used for payment of advance tax and self-assessment tax. Challan no. 282 is used for payment of miscellaneous taxes like gift tax, wealth tax, estate tax, expenditure tax etc. Challan no. 283 is used for payment of fringe benefits tax or banking cash transaction tax.

On opting for the challan type applicable, particulars such as the permanent account number (PAN) or tax deduction account number (TAN) as may be applicable, name and address of the taxpayer, relevant assessment year, type of payment and name of the bank will be displayed.

These particulars will need to be filled in carefully as an incorrect PAN/TAN (if it does match the records of the income-tax department) will not allow further processing of the payment. The mandatory fields are highlighted and to ensure smooth processing, these fields need to be populated. You will then reach the net-banking site provided by your bank where you hold your account and with the use of the allocated customer ID and password, the payment will be processed.

Once the process is complete and the bank processes the online transaction, you will be issued an acknowledgment indicating the challan identification number (CIN). After a week of making the payment, the status of the payment may be verified at the NSDL-TIN website under section ?Challan Status Inquiry?.

You can also verify the payment of taxes through an online bank statement. Apart from being relieved of the hassles of visiting the bank for paying taxes and the additional paper work, an added advantage is that online payment does not require attaching the acknowledged counterfoil with your return.

Quoting the challan identification number is sufficient proof for the tax authorities. Imagine, not having to worry about the challan copies and the related paperwork. As for security concerns, the authorities assure the taxpayers that the transmission through the NSDL-TIN website is encrypted and is with the secure socket layer authentication.

Source : www.cainindia.org,

Sensex makes history, hits 15k

Friday, July 6th, 2007

MUMBAI, JULY 6:  India’s benchmark share index rose above 15,000 points for the first time on Friday, led by gains in Infosys Technologies and Bharti Airtel Ltd.At 1:23 p.m. (0753 GMT), the 30-issue BSE index was up 0.75 percent, or 111.04 points, at 14,971.14, after rising as high as 15,007.22.

Company Secretaries can now prefix the word CS

Friday, July 6th, 2007

Company Secretaries  in India can now prefix the word CS

The Council of the Institute (ICSI) in its 173rd meeting held on June 23-24,
2007 has decided that a member of the Institute may prefix CS to his name in
order to distinguish himself from other professionals and to create brand
image of the CS profession.

Pvt schools, hospitals to be in service tax net

Friday, July 6th, 2007

Will have to pay 12% tax besides 3% education cess.

Service tax of 12 per cent (plus the education cess of 3 per cent) will soon be levied on fees charged by schools, doctors and hospitals.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Value-Added Tax (VAT) at a meeting in Srinagar on June 15.

The committee decided that private schools and hospitals, amusement parks, coin-operated amusement machine services and other recreation and amusement services will be brought under the tax net from the current financial year. The government will now amend the Service Tax Rules, 1994 to impose the tax.

Consequently, service tax at the rate of 12.36 per cent will be levied on all institutions providing pre-school education, secondary education as well as technical and vocational educational services in case the fees charged is more than Rs 1,000 per month.

Similarly, service tax will be levied on all private hospitals, including those providing primary healthcare, though services provided to families living below the poverty line will be exempt.

Healthcare companies said the tax would make their services more expensive. ?Healthcare players will have no option but to pass on the additional tax burden to the patients,? said Daljit Singh, president (operations), Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Ltd.

Added Max Healthcare Ltd Executive Director Mukesh Shivdasani: ?A cardiac surgery that costs Rs 2,00,000 now will become more expensive by Rs 25,000.?

The Centre had agreed to give the entire tax collection from 33 services to compensate states for the phasing out of the central sales tax from the current fiscal.

It was also agreed that another 44 services would be brought under the tax net ? the new services identified at the Srinagar meeting are the first five of the lot. The tax collection from the 33 services is likely to fetch states about Rs 4,000 crore this year.

June, 28th 2007

Source : CAinIndia

RBI releases Master circulars

Friday, July 6th, 2007

Click to read / download Master circulars released by RBI (Reserve Bank of India) in the month of July 2007.

Master circulars 

RBI Governor announces Annual Policy Statement for the year 2007-08

Friday, July 6th, 2007

RBI Governor announces Annual Policy Statement for the year 2007-08.
Highlights

  • Greater emphasis on price stability and well-anchored inflation expectations while ensuring a monetary and interest rate environment that supports growth momentum.
  • Swift response with all appropriate measures to all situations impinging on inflation expectations and the growth momentum
  • Renewed focus on credit quality and orderly financial markets conditions in securing macroeconomic, in particular, financial stability.
  • Bank Rate, Reverse Repo Rate and Repo Rate kept unchanged.
  • Scheduled banks required to maintain CRR of 6.5 per cent with effect from the fortnight beginning April 28, 2007.
  • GDP growth projection for 2007-08 at around 8.5 per cent.
  • Inflation to be contained close to 5.0 per cent during 2007-08. Going forward, the resolve is to condition policy and perceptions for inflation in the range of 4.0-4.5 per cent over the medium term.
  • M3 expansion to be contained at around 17.0-17.5 per cent during 2007-08.
  • Deposits projected to increase by around Rs.4,90,000 crore during 2007-08.
  • Adjusted non-food credit projected to increase by around 24.0-25.0 per cent during 2007-08, implying a graduated deceleration from the average of 29.8 per cent over 2004-07.
  • Appropriate liquidity to be maintained to meet legitimate credit requirements, consistent with price and financial stability.
  • Ceiling interest rate on FCNR (B) deposits reduced by 50 basis points to Libor minus 75 basis points.
  • Ceiling interest rate on NR(E)RA deposits reduced by 50 basis points to LIBOR/SWAP rates.
  • Average cut-off yield on 182-day Treasury Bills to be used as a benchmark rate for floating rate bonds.
  • Working Group to be set up to go into all the relevant issues and suggest measures to facilitate the development of interest rate futures market.
  • Overseas investment limit (total financial commitments) for Indian companies enhanced to 300 per cent of their net worth.
  • Listed Indian companies limit for portfolio investment abroad in listed overseas companies enhanced to 35 per cent of net worth.
  • Aggregate ceiling on overseas investment by mutual funds enhanced to US $ 4 billion.
  • Prepayment of external commercial borrowings (ECBs) without prior Reseve Bank approval increased to US $ 400 million.
  • Present limit for individuals for any permitted current or capital account transaction increased from US $ 50,000 to US $ 100,000 per financial year in the liberalised remittance scheme.
  • A Working Group on Currency Futures to be set up to suggest a suitable framework to operationalise the proposal in line with the current legal and regulatory framework.
  • Risk weight on loans up to Rs.1 lakh against gold and silver ornaments for all categories of banks reduced to 50 per cent.
  • Introduction of a credit guarantee scheme for distressed farmers.
  • Indian banks permitted to extend credit and non-credit facilities to step-down subsidiaries within the existing prudential limits and some additional safeguards.
  • Banks and primary dealers permitted to begin transactions in single-entity credit default swaps.
  • Risk weight on residential housing loans to individuals for loans up to Rs.20 lakh reduced to 50 per cent as a temporary measure.
  • Existing relaxed prudential norms applicable to Tier I and Tier II urban cooperative banks extended by one year.
  • Ceiling rate of interest payable by NBFCs (other than RNBCs) on deposits raised by 150 basis points.
  •  Source and details

    ICAI to start new curriculum for CAs

    Friday, July 6th, 2007

    July, 04th 2006

    The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will introduce the new curriculum for Chartered Accountancy this September. The Government has approved the draft scheme for the same, said Mr T.N. Manoharan, President, ICAI.

    Under the new curriculum, the course can be completed in four years, against five years currently. This includes an articleship of three and a half years.

    A quarterly entrance test called CPT (common proficiency test) will make qualifying students eligible to opt for the new CA course. The first CPT will be held on November 12, in two sessions. The objective type test will include questions covering accountancy, mercantile law, economics and quantitative techniques, said Mr Manoharan.

    Those preparing for the PE-I (Proficiency Examination) exam under the old curriculum, can appear for the CPT and on passing, take up articleship, while those pursuing PE-II can directly do their articleship. Also those appearing for the final exam in May 2007, can appear for it in November.

    ICAI has opened 16 news centres for the CPT, four each at Tirupur, Anand, Karnal and Sonipet. Besides nine new centres have been opened for other exams. Currently, there are 170 test centres in India and two abroad.