K.N. Balagopal, the Finance Minister of Kerala, announced significant revisions to taxes, duties, and fees during Wednesday’s session, part of strategic adjustments outlined in the State Budget.
Key updates include reductions in family court fees and an exemption for solar ‘prosumers’ from electricity duty payments. These changes, enacted through the latest Finance Bill passed by the Assembly, introduce revised fee structures for family court petitions and appeals based on the subject matter’s value.
Notably, dwelling house values are exempt from these calculations, as detailed in the Finance Bill.
The revised fee schedule for family court petitions/counter claims is categorized as follows: up to ₹5 lakh (₹200), ₹5 lakh-₹20 lakh (₹500), ₹20 lakh-₹50 lakh (₹1,000), ₹50 lakh-₹1 crore (₹2,000), and above ₹1 crore (₹5,000). For appeal petitions, fees are structured as: up to ₹5 lakh (₹100), ₹5 lakh-₹20 lakh (₹250), ₹20 lakh-₹50 lakh (₹500), ₹50 lakh-₹1 crore (₹1,000), and above ₹1 crore (₹2,500).
The Finance Bill also proposed revised court fees under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, with fees now structured based on the complaint amount: up to ₹50,000 (₹250), ₹50,000-₹2 lakh (₹500), ₹2 lakh-₹5 lakh (₹750), ₹5 lakh-₹10 lakh (₹1,000), ₹10 lakh-₹20 lakh (₹2,000), ₹20 lakh-₹50 lakh (₹5,000), and above ₹50 lakh (₹10,000).
Meanwhile, solar ‘prosumers’, who generate and consume solar energy, are exempt from the proposed hike in electricity duty, initially intended to increase from 1.2 paise to 15 paise per unit under the Kerala Electricity Duty Act.
Additionally, Mr. Balagopal announced reduced tax rates for motor vehicles, specifically targeting all-India tourist buses: quarterly tax rates have been reduced from ₹2,250 to ₹1,500 per seat for ordinary seats, from ₹3,000 to ₹2,000 per seat for buses with push-back seats, and from ₹4,000 to ₹3,000 per berth for sleeper berths.
The Budget also introduced revised slabs for an amnesty scheme aimed at settling tax arrears predating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. Under this scheme, tax arrears up to ₹50,000 will be fully waived, benefiting 22,267 traders with liabilities totaling ₹116 crore.
For arrears between ₹50,000 and ₹10 lakh, defaulters are required to pay only 30% of the total amount. For higher arrears, ranging from ₹10 lakh to over ₹1 crore, varying percentages apply depending on the status of the case, with a deadline of December 31, 2024, for participation.
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