CBDT has notified on 8/4/2010 the Zero coupon Bond to be issued by Regional Electric corporation in coming months as bond for the pupose of section 2(48) of the I T Act which defines what is Zero Coupon Bond. The summary of the issues as per notification is as under
(a) period of life of the bond -ten years;
(b) the time schedule of the -to be issued on or before the 31st day issue of bond of March, 2011;
(c) the amount to be paid -thirty thousand rupees for each bond; on maturity or redemption of the bonds
(e) the number of bonds to -twenty five lakhs.
Taxation Rule
- The Zero Coupon Bond will be capital asset if it is kept as Investment ,
- It will be treated as business asset.if it is kept as stock in trade .
- The sale or redemption of the Bond will be regarded as transfer and shall make holder liable to tax .
- If it is investment , there will be short term capital gains or long term capital gains based on the fact that the Bond is held for less than a year or more.
- In case it is long term capital gains, one can claim Indexation benefit and tax rate will be 20%. However, if the indexation benefit is not not taken, the tax rate can be 10 % only on the gains under section 112A
- In case the Bond is regarded as stock-in-trade , the difference in sale price or redemption amount and the purchase price shall be treated at business income , taxed at normal rate.
