Property tax for buyer

India is the world’s second-largest country by population and one of the most rapidly growing economies, making it a hotbed of real estate investment activity. The Indian real estate market is estimated to be worth US$180 billion and is expected to grow to US$1 trillion by 2030. The Government of India levies taxes on real estate transactions. 

Sec 194 IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 states that for all transactions with effect from June 1, 2013, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on the property is applicable when the value of the property is more than Rupees 50 lakhs. The buyer is required to deduct 1% of the value of the property as TDS, which is to be deposited with the Income Tax Department. Then submit TDS online by the 30th of next month in which TDS is deducted. Buyer is not required to take a TAN. Buyers can fill the form 26QB available on www.T I N – N S D L.com and deposit the government TDS. The buyer is also required to provide the seller with a TDS certificate in Form 16B as proof of payment. It is applicable on all properties except agricultural land.

Let’s have a look at some of the points to be noted:

  1. TDS is calculated on the base amount excluding GST.
  2. If the amount is paid in installments by the buyer, deduct 1% from each installment.
  3. In the case of a home loan, TDS is deducted at the time payment is made to the seller, not at the time when EMI is paid to the bank.
  4. In case there are two buyers and the individual purchase price is less than 50 lakhs but the combined purchase price is more than 50 lakhs, then TDS will be deducted.
  5. This is also applicable when the buyer is a nonresident Indian.
  6.  If the seller does not provide PAN, then TDS is to be deducted @20%.

In case of default to deduct or submit TDS

If the buyer does not submit TDS, the sub-registrar will not register your property, and you will not be able to get the property transferred to your name. TDS is a mandatory document and must be submitted to the sub-registrar. You can get a notice from the tax department as well. In some cases, officers can impose a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh as well.

If a buyer does not deduct TDS, the interest charged will be approx @1% per month.

And if a buyer deducts TDS but does not deposit it, interest can be around 1.5% per month.

Now the amount to be deducted would depend on the residential status of the seller, and the residential status of the buyer would not be considered.

TDS applicability if a Seller is an Indian resident

If the seller is an Indian resident, as discussed above, deduct TDS of 1% of the entire sale value and deposit the same with the government.

If the Seller is a Non-Resident Indian (NRI)

Here, TDS is to be deducted regardless of purchase price, it must be deducted on all properties.

This TDS will be on capital gains tax, which is the sale price minus the purchase price minus the expenses.

Nature of Capital GainsDescriptionTDS Rate on Sale of Property by NRI
Long-Term Capital GainsProperty held for more than 2 years20%
Short Term Capital GainsProperty held for less than 2 yearsIncome Tax Slab Rates of Seller

So, if the property is sold after 2 years, TDS will be deducted by the buyer at 20%. There will be a surcharge, for health, and education of 20%, depending on the budget of the property sale price. If the property is sold in less than 2 years, the nature of the capital gains will be short-term capital gains, and the TDS will be as per the IT slab for NRIs. 

The buyer will submit Form 27Q online and the TDS online. The buyer will give proof that TDS is deducted from the seller by giving Form 16A-NRI. If TDS is not deducted or deposited, the government will catch hold of the buyer, and the buyer must deposit it.

Gudi Padwa and its Impact on Indian Realty Sector.

Gudi Padwa, a festival which earmarks new beginnings and new hopes to everybody’s life. Hence many builders announce their new projects at this point of time taking into consideration the sentiments of the local market. The festival is widely celebrated in the state of Maharashtra. As for common people in India, a home is a priced possession and they do not sell and buy residential properties often. They wait for an auspicious date to such transactions.

Keeping this in mind, realtors at Pune has organized Sakal Pune Property Show named as Sakal Gudi Padwa Grihotsav 2012. Across the just concluded quarter, residential prices in the outskirts of Mumbai have seen a positive slide. With the Union Budget 2012 giving due consideration to the loans of affordable housing projects coupled with the positive feeling related to the festival, buyers and sellers expect to strike a great deal during this year’s Gudi Padwa.

The buyers mainly constitute the New Urban Family Sector. Moreover, during this festive season, realtors juxtapose the properties with attractive discounts and freebies. But with these factors only, nobody can lure customers today. They are more oriented towards the location of the property, the pricing and the quality of construction.

The recent years were not so good for real estate sector. The ever rising inflation rates and interest rates kept the buyers at the bay. But the recent decision of the RBI to cut CRR rates gives little bit of hope to the sector.

However real estate experts suggest that the sentiments related to a festival only cannot trigger the sector. But it is decisive in getting the real estate market on the right track after a gloom. Moreover, traditionally Gudi Padwa means birth of bhoomi and bhoomi is everybody’s shelter. We can hope and look forward for bright days for real estate sector ahead with this auspicious festival.