US corporate sector hails India's move to slash income tax rate for companies

Washington: The US corporate sector has lauded the Indian government for substantially slashing the income tax rate to 25.17 per cent, saying the move will reverse the economic slowdown and allow global companies a "good option" for growing their manufacturing base in the country.

The government on Friday slashed the income tax rate for companies by almost 10 percentage points to 25.17 per cent and offered a lower rate to 17.01 per cent for new manufacturing firms to boost economic growth rate from a six-year low by incentivising investments to help create jobs.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the reduction in tax rates was done by promulgating an ordinance to an amendment to the Income Tax Act.

"We laud the Government for addressing our longstanding demand for lowering the corporate tax rates. The move will make Indian companies globally competitive and allow global companies a good option for growing their manufacturing base in country," Mukesh Aghi, president of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) told PTI.

"This is a welcome step to reverse the economic slowdown," he said.

Aghi said additional announcements pertaining to lowering of MAT rate to 15 per cent, non-applicability of buy-back tax on select listed companies and limiting the applicability of higher surcharge by making it non-applicable on capital gains on sale of security, including derivatives held by FPIs, will help in re-assuring investors from global economies including the United States.

"USISPF continues to be at the forefront in partnering with the Government of India towards initiatives like these which enhance the ease of doing business in India," he said.

Aghi exuded confidence that the trade disputes between India and the US will be resolved by the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump meet in New York for the second time in three days' time on September 24.

"Absolutely", he said when asked if some of the trade issues would be resolved.

"The gap is not that big. I am confident that by the time when Prime Minister Modi and President Trump meeting New York, a lot of the issues would have been sorted out," he said.

Responding to a question, Aghi said the sentiment about India among US companies was now more mature and more calculated.

"What we are saying is that the investment process in India from US companies is not slowing down. In fact, they're looking at how do we have a backup strategy, especially for manufacturing, China plus one strategy. And India becomes one of the options," he said.

Noting that the bilateral trade now is USD 142 billion, he said it was experiencing a double digit growth, despite all the disputes.

"US companies are gaining market share in India. Companies such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, WhatsApp, Uber have been shut out of China. So the market is open for US companies. The US is one of the largest FDI investor in India," he said.

That momentum will continue especially in light of the extremely positive reforms announced by India today to cut corporate tax rates, Aghi said.

"It sends a message that India is open for business, welcoming to foreign investment and this is a long-term opportunity to continue engagement with industry," Aghi said.

As the India US trade grows and the relationship deepens, there will be friction points, there will be disagreements, he noted.

But, there is enough maturity on both sides to sort this out and keep the bigger picture in mind to move forward, Aghi said.

"This move to significantly reduce the corporate tax rate will provide a major boost to investor confidence, paving the way for the investments India needs as a foundation for economic growth," US-India Business Council President Nisha Biswal said.

"The announcements will also provide a much-needed stimulus for the flagging manufacturing sector and help boost domestic consumption. We welcome this decisive action by the GOI, and look forward to a continued focus on shared prosperity as Prime Minister Modi travels Houston for the Howdy Modi summit on Sunday," Biswal said.

Applauding Sitharaman for the decision, USA India Chamber of Commerce president Karun Rishi said it was a bold, progressive and historic move.

"It signals the Indian government's commitment to economic growth and its goal of a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025," he said.

Cutting tax on new manufacturing companies from 25 per cent to 15 per cent will make India competitive and incentivise setting up manufacturing units in India. This will firmly revive growth and create much needed new jobs, Rishi said.

Allowing corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending on incubators or research grants to institutes engaged in promoting science research can accelerate innovation in India, Rishi said.

He hoped the Indian corporate sector will use CSR to support basic and early BioPharma research for the benefit of 1.3 billion Indians and rest of the world.