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THE FINANCE ACT, 2015

THE FINANCE ACT, 2015

NO. 20 OF 2015

[14th May, 2015.]

An Act to give effect to the financial proposals of the Central Government for the financial year 2015-2016.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Finance Act, 2015.

Short title and commencement.

(2) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, sections 2 to 81 shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of April, 2015.

CHAPTER II

RATES OF INCOME-TAX

Income-tax.

2. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3), for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2015, income-tax shall be charged at the rates specified in Part I of the First Schedule and such tax shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated in each case in the manner provided therein.

(2) In the cases to which Paragraph A of Part I of the First Schedule applies, where the assessee has, in the previous year, any net agricultural income exceeding five thousand rupees, in addition to total income, and the total income exceeds two lakh fifty thousand rupees, then,—

(a) the net agricultural income shall be taken into account, in the manner provided in clause (b) [that is to say, as if the net agricultural income were comprised in the total income after the first two lakh fifty thousand rupees of the total income but without being liable to tax], only for the purpose of charging income-tax in respect of the total income; and

(b) the income-tax chargeable shall be calculated as follows:—

(i) the total income and the net agricultural income shall be aggregated and the amount of income-tax shall be determined in respect of the aggregate income at the rates specified in the said Paragraph A, as if such aggregate income were the total income;

(ii) the net agricultural income shall be increased by a sum of two lakh fifty thousand rupees, and the amount of income-tax shall be determined in respect of the net agricultural income as so increased at the rates specified in the said Paragraph A, as if the net agricultural income as so increased were the total income;

(iii) the amount of income-tax determined in accordance with sub-clause

(i) shall be reduced by the amount of income-tax determined in accordance with sub-clause (ii) and the sum so arrived at shall be the income-tax in respect of the total income:

Provided that in the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the previous year, referred to in item (II) of Paragraph A of Part I of the First Schedule, the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “two lakh fifty thousand rupees”, the words “three lakh rupees” had been substituted:

Provided further that in the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at any time during the previous year, referred to in item (III) of Paragraph A of Part I of the First Schedule, the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “two lakh fifty thousand rupees”, the words “five lakh rupees” had been substituted.

(3) In cases to which the provisions of Chapter XII or Chapter XII-A or section 115JB or section 115JC or Chapter XII-FA or sub-section (1A) of section 161 or section 164 or section 164A or section 167B of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the Income-tax Act) apply, the tax chargeable shall be determined as provided in that Chapter or that section, and with reference to the rates imposed by sub-section (1) or the rates as specified in that Chapter or section, as the case may be:

Provided that the amount of income-tax computed in accordance with the provisions of section 111A or section 112 of the Income-tax Act shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, as provided in Paragraph A, B, C, D or E, as the case may be, of Part I of the First Schedule:

Provided further that in respect of any income chargeable to tax under section 115A, 115AB, 115AC, 115ACA, 115AD, 115B, 115BB, 115BBA, 115BBC, 115BBD, 115BBE, 115E, 115JB or 115JC of the Income-tax Act, the amount of income-tax computed under this sub-section shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated,—

(a) in the case of every individual or Hindu undivided family or association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, 43 of 1961. or co-operative society or firm or local authority, at the rate of ten per cent. of such income-tax, where the total income exceeds one crore rupees;

(b) in the case of every domestic company,—

(i) at the rate of five per cent. of such income-tax, where the total income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees;

(ii) at the rate of ten per cent. of such income-tax, where the total income exceeds ten crore rupees;

(i) at the rate of two per cent. of such income-tax, where the total income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees;

(ii) at the rate of five per cent. of such income-tax, where the total income exceeds ten crore rupees:

Provided also that in the case of persons mentioned in (a), having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JC of the Income-tax Act and such income exceeds one crore rupees, the total amount payable as income-tax on such income and surcharge thereon shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees:

Provided also that in the case of every company having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JB of the Income-tax Act, and such income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees, the total amount payable as income-tax on such income and surcharge thereon, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees:

Provided also that in the case of every company having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JB of the Income-tax Act, and such income exceeds ten crore rupees, the total amount payable as income-tax on such income and surcharge thereon, shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on a total income of ten crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds ten crore rupees.

(4) In cases in which tax has to be charged and paid under section 115-O or section 115QA or sub-section (2) of section 115R or section 115TA of the Income-tax Act, the tax shall be charged and paid at the rates as specified in those sections and shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated at the rate of twelve per cent. of such tax.

(5) In cases in which tax has to be deducted under sections 193, 194, 194A, 194B, 194BB, 194D, 194LBA and 195 of the Income-tax Act, at the rates in force, the deductions shall be made at the rates specified in Part II of the First Schedule and shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated in cases wherever prescribed, in the manner provided therein.

(6) In cases in which tax has to be deducted under sections 192A, 194C, 194DA, 194E, 194EE, 194F, 194G, 194H, 194-I,194-IA, 194J, 194LA, 194LB, 194LBA, 194LBB, 194LC, 194LD, 196B, 196C and 196D of the Income-tax Act, the deductions shall be made at the rates specified in those sections and shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union,—

(a) in the case of every individual or Hindu undivided family or association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, or co-operative society or firm, being a non-resident, calculated at the rate of twelve per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds one crore rupees;

(b) in the case of every company, other than a domestic company, calculated,—

(i) at the rate of two per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees;

(ii) at the rate of five per cent. of such tax, where the income or the aggregate of such incomes paid or likely to be paid and subject to the deduction exceeds ten crore rupees.

(7) In cases in which tax has to be collected under the proviso to section 194B of the Income-tax Act, the collection shall be made at the rates specified in Part II of the First Schedule, and shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated, in cases wherever prescribed, in the manner provided therein.

(8) In cases in which tax has to be collected under section 206C of the Income-tax Act, the collection shall be made at the rates specified in that section and shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union,—

(a) in the case of every individual or Hindu undivided family or association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, or co-operative society or firm, being a non-resident, calculated at the rate of twelve per cent. of such tax, where the amount or the aggregate of such amounts collected and subject to the collection exceeds one crore rupees;

(b) in the case of every company, other than a domestic company, calculated—

(i) at the rate of two per cent. of such tax, where the amount or the aggregate of such amounts collected and subject to the collection exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees;

(ii) at the rate of five per cent. of such tax, where the amount or the aggregate of such amounts collected and subject to the collection exceeds ten crore rupees.

(9) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (10), in cases in which income-tax has to be charged under sub-section (4) of section 172 or sub-section (2) of section 174 or section 174A or section 175 or sub-section (2) of section 176 of the Income-tax Act or deducted from, or paid on, income chargeable under the head “Salaries” under section 192 of the said Act or in which the “advance tax” payable under Chapter XVII-C of the said Act has to be computed at the rate or rates in force, such income-tax or, as the case may be, “advance tax” shall be so charged, deducted or computed at the rate or rates specified in Part III of the First Schedule and such tax shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated in such cases and in such manner as provided therein:

Provided that in cases to which the provisions of Chapter XII or Chapter XII-A or section 115JB or section 115JC or Chapter XII-FA or Chapter XII-FB or sub-section (1A) of section 161 or section 164 or section 164A or section 167B of the Income-tax Act apply, “advance tax” shall be computed with reference to the rates imposed by this sub-section or the rates as specified in that Chapter or section, as the case may be:

Provided further that the amount of “advance tax” computed in accordance with the provisions of section 111A or section 112 of the Income-tax Act shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, as provided in Paragraph A, B, C, D or E, as the case may be, of Part III of the First Schedule:

Provided also that in respect of any income chargeable to tax under sections 115A, 115AB, 115AC, 115ACA, 115AD, 115B, 115BB, 115BBA, 115BBC, 115BBD, 1I5BBE, 115E, 115JB and 115JC of the Income-tax Act, “advance tax” computed under the first proviso shall be increased by a surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated,—

(a) in the case of every individual or Hindu undivided family or association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, or co-operative society or firm or local authority, calculated at the rate of twelve per cent. of such “advance tax”, where the total income exceeds one crore rupees;

(b) in the case of every domestic company, calculated,—

(i) at the rate of seven per cent. of such “advance tax”, where the total income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees;

(ii) at the rate of twelve per cent. of such “advance tax”, where the total income exceeds ten crore rupees;

(i) at the rate of two per cent. of such “advance tax”, where the total income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees;

(ii) at the rate of five per cent. of such “advance tax”, where the total income exceeds ten crore rupees:

Provided also that in the case of persons mentioned in (a) above, having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JC of the Income-tax Act and such income exceeds one crore rupees, the total amount payable as “advance tax” on such income and surcharge thereon shall not exceed the total amount payable as “advance tax” on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees:

Provided also that in the case of every company having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JB of the Income-tax Act, and such income exceeds one crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees, the total amount payable as “advance tax” on such income and surcharge thereon, shall not exceed the total amount payable as “advance tax” on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees:

Provided also that in the case of every company having total income chargeable to tax under section 115JB of the Income-tax Act, and such income exceeds ten crore rupees, the total amount payable as “advance tax” on such income and surcharge thereon, shall not exceed the total amount payable as “advance tax” and surcharge on a total income of ten crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds ten crore rupees.

(10) In cases to which Paragraph A of Part III of the First Schedule applies, where the assessee has, in the previous year or, if by virtue of any provision of the Income-tax Act, income-tax is to be charged in respect of the income of a period other than the previous year, in such other period, any net agricultural income exceeding five thousand rupees, in addition to total income and the total income exceeds two lakh fifty thousand rupees, then, in charging income-tax under sub-section (2) of section 174 or section 174A or section 175 or subsection

(2) of section 176 of the said Act or in computing the “advance tax” payable under Chapter XVII-C of the said Act, at the rate or rates in force,—

(b) such income-tax or, as the case may be, “advance tax” shall be so charged or computed as follows:—

(i) the total income and the net agricultural income shall be aggregated and the amount of income-tax or “advance tax” shall be determined in respect of the aggregate income at the rates specified in the said Paragraph A, as if such aggregate income were the total income;

(ii) the net agricultural income shall be increased by a sum of two lakh fifty thousand rupees, and the amount of income-tax or “advance tax” shall be determined in respect of the net agricultural income as so increased at the rates specified in the said Paragraph A, as if the net agricultural income were the total income;

(iii) the amount of income-tax or “advance tax” determined in accordance with sub-clause (i) shall be reduced by the amount of income-tax or, as the case may be, “advance tax” determined in accordance with sub-clause (ii) and the sum so arrived at shall be the income-tax or, as the case may be, “advance tax” in respect of the total income:

Provided that in the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the previous year, referred to in item (II) of Paragraph A of Part III of the First Schedule, the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “two lakh fifty thousand rupees”, the words “three lakh rupees” had been substituted:

Provided further that in the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at any time during the previous year, referred to in item (III) of Paragraph A of Part III of the First Schedule, the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “two lakh fifty thousand rupees”, the words “five lakh rupees” had been substituted:

Provided also that the amount of income-tax or “advance tax” so arrived at, shall be increased by a surcharge for purposes of the Union calculated in each case, in the manner provided therein.

(11) The amount of income-tax as specified in sub-sections (1) to (10) and as increased by the applicable surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated in the manner provided therein, shall be further increased by an additional surcharge, for purposes of the Union, to be called the “Education Cess on income-tax”, calculated at the rate of two per cent. of such income-tax and surcharge so as to fulfil the commitment of the Government to provide and finance universalised quality basic education:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to cases in which tax is to be deducted or collected under the sections of the Income-tax Act mentioned in sub-sections (5), (6), (7) and (8), if the income subjected to deduction of tax at source or collection of tax at source is paid to a domestic company and any other person who is resident in India.

(12) The amount of income-tax as specified in sub-sections (1) to (10) and as increased by the applicable surcharge, for purposes of the Union, calculated in the manner provided therein, shall also be increased by an additional surcharge, for purposes of the Union, to be called the “Secondary and Higher Education Cess on income-tax”, calculated at the rate of one per cent. of such income-tax and surcharge so as to fulfil the commitment of the Government to provide and finance secondary and higher education:

(13) For the purposes of this section and the First Schedule,—

(a) “domestic company” means an Indian company or any other company which, in respect of its income liable to income-tax under the Income-tax Act, for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2015, has made the prescribed arrangements for the declaration and payment within India of the dividends (including dividends on preference shares) payable out of such income;

(b) “insurance commission” means any remuneration or reward, whether by way of commission or otherwise, for soliciting or procuring insurance business (including business relating to the continuance, renewal or revival of policies of insurance);

(c) “net agricultural income”, in relation to a person, means the total amount of agricultural income, from whatever source derived, of that person computed in accordance with the rules contained in Part IV of the First Schedule;

(d) all other words and expressions used in this section and the First Schedule but not defined in this sub-section and defined in the Income-tax Act shall have the meanings, respectively, assigned to them in that Act.

CHAPTER III

DIRECT TAXES

Income-tax

Amendment of section 2.

3. In section 2 of the Income-tax Act, with effect from the 1st day of April, 2016,—

(a) for clause (13A), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:—

‘(13A) “business trust” means a trust registered as,—

(i) an Infrastructure Investment Trust under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992; or

(ii) a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, and the units of which are required to be listed on recognised stock exchange in accordance with the aforesaid regulations;’;

(b) in clause (15),—

(i) after the word “education,”, the word “yoga,” shall be inserted;

(ii) for the first and the second provisos, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:—

“Provided that the advancement of any other object of general public utility shall not be a charitable purpose, if it involves the carrying on of any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business, or any activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business, for a cess or fee or any other consideration, irrespective of the nature of use or application, or retention, of the income from such activity, unless—

15 of 1992.

(i) such activity is undertaken in the course of actual carrying out of such advancement of any other object of general public utility; and

15 of 1992.

(ii) the aggregate receipts from such activity or activities during the previous year, do not exceed twenty per cent. of the total receipts, of the trust or institution undertaking such activity or activities, of that previous year;”;

“(xviii) assistance in the form of a subsidy or grant or cash incentive or duty drawback or waiver or concession or reimbursement (by whatever name called) by the Central Government or a State Government or any authority or body or agency in cash or kind to the assessee other than the subsidy or grant or reimbursement which is taken into account for determination of the actual cost of the asset in acordance with the provisions of Explanation 10 to clause

(1) of section 43;”;

(d) in clause (37A), in sub-clause (iii), after the words “for the purposes of deduction of tax under”, the words, figures and letters “section 194LBA or” shall be inserted;

(e) in clause (42A), in the Explanation 1, in clause (i), after sub-clause (hc), the following sub-clauses shall be inserted, namely:—

“(hd) in the case of a capital asset, being a unit or units, which becomes the property of the assessee in consideration of a transfer referred to in clause

(xviii) of section 47, there shall be included the period for which the unit or units in the consolidating scheme of the mutual fund were held by the assessee;

(he) in the case of a capital asset, being share or shares of a company, which is acquired by the non-resident assessee on redemption of Global Depository Receipts referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 115AC held by such assessee, the period shall be reckoned from the date on which a request for such redemption was made;”.

Amendment of section 6.

4. In section 6 of the Income-tax Act,—

(i) in clause (1), the Explanation shall be numbered as Explanation 1 thereof and after Explanation 1 as so numbered, the following Explanation shall be inserted, namely:—

“Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, in the case of an individual, being a citizen of India and a member of the crew of a foreign bound ship leaving India, the period or periods of stay in India shall, in respect of such voyage, be determined in the manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.”;

(ii) for clause (3), the following clause shall be substituted with effect from the 1st day of April, 2016, namely:—

‘(3) A company is said to be resident in India in any previous year, if—

(i) it is an Indian company; or

(ii) its place of effective management, in that year, is in India.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause “place of effective management” means a place where key management and commercial decisions that are necessary for the conduct of the business of an entity as a whole, are in substance made.’.

Amendment of section 9.

5. In section 9 of the Income-tax Act, in sub-section (1), with effect from the 1st day of April, 2016,—

(A) in clause (i), after Explanation 5, the following Explanations shall be inserted, namely:—

‘Explanation 6.—For the purposes of this clause, it is hereby declared

that—

(a) the share or interest, referred to in Explanation 5, shall be deemed to derive its value substantially from the assets (whether tangible or intangible) located in India, if, on the specified date, the value of such assets—

(i) exceeds the amount of ten crore rupees; and

(ii) represents at least fifty per cent. of the value of all the assets owned by the company or entity, as the case may be;

(b) the value of an asset shall be the fair market value as on the specified date, of such asset without reduction of liabilities, if any, in respect of the asset, determined in such manner as may be prescribed;

Provided that where a company or an entity, referred to in Explanation 5, regularly adopts a period of twelve months ending on a day other than the 31st day of March for the purpose of—

(i) complying with the provisions of the tax laws of the territory, of which it is a resident, for tax purposes; or

(ii) reporting to persons holding the share or interest, then, the period of twelve months ending with the other day shall be the accounting period of the company or, as the case may be, the entity:

Provided further that the first accounting period of the company or, as the case may be, the entity shall begin from the date of its registration or incorporation and end with the 31st day of March or such other day, as the case may be, following the date of such registration or incorporation, and the later accounting period shall be the successive periods of twelve months:

Provided also that if the company or the entity ceases to exist before the end of accounting period, as aforesaid, then, the accounting period shall end immediately before the company or, as the case may be, the entity, ceases to exist;

(d) “specified date” means the—

(i) date on which the accounting period of the company or, as the case may be, the entity ends preceding the date of transfer of a share or an interest; or

(ii) date of transfer, if the book value of the assets of the company or, as the case may be, the entity on the date of transfer exceeds the book value of the assets as on the date referred to in sub-clause (i), by fifteen per cent.

Explanation 7.— For the purposes of this clause,—

(a) no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise to a non-resident from transfer, outside India, of any share of, or interest in, a company or an entity, registered or incorporated outside India, referred to in the

Explanation 5,—

(i) if such company or entity directly owns the assets situated in India and the transferor (whether individually or along with its associated enterprises), at any time in the twelve months preceding the date of transfer, neither holds the right of management or control in relation to such company or entity, nor holds voting power or share capital or interest exceeding five per cent. of the total voting power or total share capital or total interest, as the case may be, of such company or entity; or

(ii) if such company or entity indirectly owns the assets situated in India and the transferor (whether individually or along with its associated enterprises), at any time in the twelve months preceding the date of transfer, neither holds the right of management or control in relation to such company or entity, nor holds any right in, or in relation to, such company or entity which would entitle him to the right of management or control in the company or entity that directly owns the assets situated in India, nor holds such percentage of voting power or share capital or interest in such company or entity which results in holding of (either individually or along with associated enterprises) a voting power or share capital or interest exceeding five per cent. of the total voting power or total share capital or total interest, as the case may be, of the company or entity that directly owns the assets situated in India;

(b) in a case where all the assets owned, directly or indirectly, by a company or, as the case may be, an entity referred to in the Explanation 5, are not located in India, the income of the non-resident transferor, from transfer outside India of a share of, or interest in, such company or entity, deemed to accrue or arise in India under this clause, shall be only such part of the income as is reasonably attributable to assets located in India and determined in such manner as may be prescribed;

(B) in clause (v), after sub-clause (c), the following Explanation shall be inserted, namely:—

‘Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—

(a) it is hereby declared that in the case of a non-resident, being a person engaged in the business of banking, any interest payable by the permanent establishment in India of such non-resident to the head office or any permanent establishment or any other part of such nonresident outside India shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India and shall be chargeable to tax in addition to any income attributable to the permanent establishment in India and the permanent establishment in India shall be deemed to be a person separate and independent of the non-resident person of which it is a permanent establishment and the provisions of the Act relating to computation of total income, determination of tax and collection and recovery shall apply accordingly;

(b) “permanent establishment” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (iiia) of section 92F;’.

Insertion of new section 9A.

6. After section 9 of the Income-tax Act, the following section shall be inserted with effect from the 1st day of April, 2016, namely:—

Certain activities not to constitute business connection in India.

‘9A. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 9 and subject to the provisions of this section, in the case of an eligible investment fund, the fund management activity carried out through an eligible fund manager acting on behalf of such fund shall not constitute business connection in India of the said fund.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6, an eligible investment fund shall not be said to be resident in India for the purpose of that section merely because the eligible fund manager, undertaking fund management activities on its behalf, is situated in India.

(3) The eligible investment fund referred to in sub-section (1), means a fund established or incorporated or registered outside India, which collects funds from its members for investing it for their benefit and fulfils the following conditions, namely:—

(a) the fund is not a person resident in India;

(b) the fund is a resident of a country or a specified territory with which an agreement referred to in sub-section (1) of section 90 or sub-section (1) of section 90A has been entered into;

(c) the aggregate participation or investment in the fund, directly or indirectly, by persons resident in India does not exceed five per cent. of the corpus of the fund;

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THE FINANCE ACT, 2015

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