History of Taxation

 HISTORY

The origin of the word "Tax" is from "Taxation" which means an estimate.

In India, the system of direct taxation as it is known today has been in force in one form or another even from ancient times. Variety of tax measures are referred in both Manu Smriti and Arthasastra. The wise sage advised that taxes should be related to the income and expenditure of the subject. He, however, cautioned the king against excessive taxation; a king should neither impose high rate of tax nor exempt all from tax.

According to Manu Smriti, the king should arrange the collection of taxes in such a manner that the tax payer did not feel the pinch of paying taxes. He laid down that traders and artisans should pay 1/5th of their profits in silver and gold, while the agriculturists were to pay 1/6th, 1/8th and 1/10th of their produce depending upon their circumstances.

Kautilya has also described in great detail the system of tax administration in the Mauryan Empire. It is remarkable that the present day tax system is in many ways similar to the system of taxation in vogue about 2300 years ago.

Arthasastra mentioned that each tax was specific and there was no scope for arbitrariness. Tax collectors determined the schedule of each payment, and its time, manner and quantity being all pre-determined. The land revenue was fixed at 1/6 share of the produce and import and export duties were determined on ad-valorem basis. The import duties on foreign goods were roughly 20% of their value. Similarly, tolls, road cess, ferry charges and other levies were all fixed.

Kautilya also laid down that during war or emergencies like famine or floods, etc. the taxation system should be made more stringent and the king could also raise war loans. The land revenue could be raised from 1/6th to 1/4th during the emergencies. The people engaged in commerce were to pay big donations to war efforts.

Kautilya's concept of taxation emphasised equity and justice in taxation. The affluent had to pay higher taxes as compared to the poor.

British period

Brief History of Income Tax in India: In India, this tax was introduced for the first time in 1860, by Sir James Wilson in order to meet the losses sustained by the Government on account of the Military Mutiny of 1857. In 1918, a new income tax was passed and again it was replaced by another new act which was passed in 1922.This Act remained in force up to the assessment year 1961-62 with numerous amendments.

In consultation with the Ministry of Law finally the Income Tax Act, 1961 was passed. The Income Tax Act 1961 has been brought into force with 1 April 1962. It applies to the whole of India and Sikkim (including Jammu and Kashmir).

Since 1962 several amendments of far-reaching nature have been made in the Income Tax Act by the Union Budget every year.

Central Board of Revenue bifurcated and a separate Board for Direct Taxes known as Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) constituted under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.

The major tax enactment in India is the Income Tax Act, 1961 passed by the Parliament, which imposes a tax on the income of persons.

This Act imposes a tax on income under the following five heads:

I. Income from salaries

II. Income from business and profession

III. Income in the form of capital gai

IV. Income from house property

V. Income from other sources

In Terms of the Income Tax Act, 1961, a person includes

I. Individual

II. Company

III. Firm

IV. Association of Persons (AOP)

V. Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)

VI. Body of Individuals (BOI)

VII. Local authority

VIII. Artificial Judicial person not falling in any of the preceding categories

Tax Slab in India:

The Latest income tax slabs based on the Union budget presented on 29 February 2016. The Minister of Finance Mr. Arun Jaitley presented the union budget on 29 February 2016.