No TDS deducted on compensation received that are exempt under RFCTLAAR Act, 2013 (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013) –Budget 2017.

Budget 2017, proposed to amend the section 194LA to provide that no deduction shall be made under this section where such payment is made in respect of any award or agreement which has been exempted from levy of income-tax under section 96 (except those made under section 46) of RFCTLARR Act.

Section 194LA, provides that any person paying compensation shall deduct tax at source at the rate of ten per cent. on the compensation or enhanced compensation or consideration on account of compulsory acquisition of any immovable property (other than agricultural land) under any law for the time being in force subject to certain conditions specified therein.

Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, ('RFCTLARR Act') came into force on 1st January, 2014.

Section 96 of the RFCTLARR Act, provides that income-tax shall not be levied on award or agreement made subject to limitations mentioned in section 46 of the said Act. Therefore, compensation received for compulsory acquisition of land under the RFCTLARR Act (except those made under section 46 of RFTCLARR Act), is exempted from the levy of income-tax.

The CBDT has issued Circular number 36/2016 dated 25th October, 2016 clarifying that compensation received in respect of any award or agreement which has been exempted from the levy of income-tax vide section 96 of the RFCTLARR Act shall not be taxable under the provisions of the Act, even if there is no specific provision of exemption for such compensation under the Act.

However, the circular addressed only the matter pertaining to taxability of compensation received on compulsory acquisition of and not tax deduction at source under section 194LA of the Act.

This amendment will applicable from 1^st April 2017.