Government rolls back TDS on property sales

The government Monday rolled back the proposed one percent tax deduction at source (TDS) on transfer of immovable property.

Initiating the debate on the Finance Bill for 2012-13 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the government had decided to roll back the levy after receiving various representations.

“The Finance Bill proposes that every transferee of immovable property (other than agricultural land), at the time of making payment for transfer of the property, shall deduct tax at the rate of 1 percent of such sum,” Mukherjee said.

"I have received a number of representations pointing out the additional compliance burden this measure would impose. I, therefore, propose to withdraw this provision for levy of TDS on transfer of immovable property," he added.

In the budget for financial year 2012-13 presented March 16, the finance minister had proposed to levy TDS on transfer of immovable property, in a bid to tighten screw on corruption and black money in the property markets.