Finance Bill 2016

Tax Treatment of Gold Monetization Scheme, 2015

Under the existing provisions of section 10, interest on Gold Deposit Bonds issued under Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999 is exempt. Further, these bonds are excluded from the definition of capital asset and therefore exempt from tax on capital gains.

The Gold Monetization Scheme, 2015 has since been introduced by the Government of India. Wth a view to extend the same tax benefits to the scheme as were available to the Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999 it is proposed to amend Clause (14) of section 2, so as to exclude Deposit Certificates issued under Gold Monetisation Scheme, 2015 notified by the Central Government, from the definition of capital asset and thereby to exempt it from capital gains tax.

It is also proposed to amend clause (15) of section 10 so as to provide that the interest on Deposit Certificates issued under the Scheme, shall be exempt from income-tax. These amendments are proposed to be made effective retrospectively from the 1st day of April, 2016 and shall accordingly apply in relation to assessment year 2016-17 and subsequent years.