PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE SECTOR

• Between 8th November and 30th December 2016, deposits between 2 lakh Rupees and 80 lakh Rupees were made in about 1.09 crore accounts with an average deposit size of Rs. 5.03 lakh. Deposits of more than 80 lakh were made in 1.48 lakh accounts with average deposit size of Rs. 3.31 crores.

• Under the scheme for profit-linked income tax deduction for promotion

of affordable housing, carpet area instead of built up area of 30 and 60 Sq.mtr. will be counted.

• The 30 Sq.mtr. limit will apply only in case of municipal limits of 4 metropolitan cities while for the rest of the country including in the peripheral areas of metros, limit of 60 Sq.mtr. will apply.

• For builders for whom constructed buildings are stock-in-trade, tax on notional rental income will only apply after one year of the end of the year in which completion certificate is received.

• Reduction in the holding period for computing long term capital gains from transfer of immovable property from 3 years to 2 years. Also, the base year for indexation is proposed to be shifted from April 1, 1981 to April 1, 2001 for all classes of assets including immovable property.

• For Joint Development Agreement signed for development of property, the liability to pay capital gain tax will arise in the year the project is completed.

• Exemption from capital gain tax for persons holding land on June 2, 2014, the date on which the State of Andhra Pradesh was reorganised, and whose land is being pooled for creation of capital city of Andhra Pradesh under the Government scheme.