Indian Govt. is right now facing three severe financial problems which need immediate cure: Encouraging/enforcing more tax payers; Black money flow and circulation of fake/spoiled currencies all over the nation.
In a proposal which can be termed as a masterstroke, Indian Govt. aims to rectify all of these three issues with a single plan: Tax rebates for electronic transactions.
During the last budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said, “”One way to curb the flow of black money is to discourage transactions in cash. Now that a majority of Indians has or can have, a RUPAY debit card. I therefore, propose to introduce soon several measure that will incentivize credit or debit card transactions and disincentivize cash transaction”.
It seems that the Finance Ministry has drafted a proposal based on this theory that black money and related issues can be best encountered using electronic transactions.
In a draft proposal for “Facilitating Electronic Transactions”, the ministry has proposed several interesting features and plans, and has sought public opinion on the same which can be submitted before June 29th, 5PM. At the time of writing, 376 comments have already been received.
Some of the plans which can be implemented include:
– BSNL provides an incentive of 1% to customers, in case they pay their bills using electronic medium (Internet banking, Cards). The proposal moots a plan to extend such incentives to all services, both public and private. This will certainly encourage more customers to pay using cash-less facilities.
– Customers can get some major tax benefits if they pay a certain portion of their bills and payments using electronic medium.
– Merchant Discount Rate of MDR is the fee which is charged by bank to merchants for accepting payments using credit/debit cards. As of now, Govt. regulates this charge as 0.75% for transactions upto Rs 2000 and 1% for more than that on Debit Cards. Govt. now proposes to decrease MDR, and thus encourage merchants to use cash-less payment service more frequently.
– Govt. plans to provide merchants with a tax rebate if they report maximum transactions using cash-less mode. As of now, Govt. has proposed that in case a merchant facilitates 50% of all transactions using cards and electronic transactions, then an ‘appropriate tax rebate’ can be extended to that merchant. Similarly, 1-2% of VAT can be reduced if all the transactions reported by the merchant have been cash-less.
– Inter-change fees on debit/credit card transactions can be made uniform all across the nation for a better adaptability and uniformity.
– Govt. also plans to mandate all transactions above Rs 1 Lakh to be done via electronic medium only.
– Some solid fraud prevention methods are also being mentioned in the draft.
You can read all the proposals mooted by the Govt. to encourage electronic payments and transactions here.
National Epayment Gateway: PayGov India
One of the pointers shared in the proposal include establishing a National level Payment platform which can accept revenues, taxes, bill payments, fees, penalties, stamp duties etc, uniformly all over the country.
Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY), along with NSDL Database Management Ltd (NDML) have already started working on the same, and much progress has already been made. Named as PayGov India, this massive online payment gateway can be used by all citizens of India to make every type of payment.
Once fully developed, this would be the largest, integrated payment platform in India, wherein a customer can pay using: Internet banking, debit cards, credit cards, IMPS, eWallets and NEFT/RTGS modes.
PayGov India, along with the proposals for tax rebates for both merchants and customers seems a solid plan; which can not only curb black money, but also net more tax payers and help to stop circulation of fake and/or spoiled currencies.
More information about PayGov India here.
This is something that GOI should have had implemented long back. Its unfair treatment to charge extra to a Debit card holder. By paying via debit card, my account is being Debited immediately, hence it is equivalent of cash transaction for me. Additionally I am willing to leave a electronic trail of my expenses which promotes transparency in my ad well as the merchants dealing. A debit card holder is helping the tax authority immensely by conducting transactions through the same, its high time Government acknowledges this point. Even Credit card payment, while not being immediately paid by me, does leave a electronic trail, and should be applauded. By charging extra on Card payment, most merchants dissuade customers from paying via card, this increases instances of cash transaction and black money trail becomes more murkier.
@shashank – Absolutely agree to the T. They should have done it long back. Infact, even if they offer about 0.5% rebate on such transactions, Govt will end up with more money in their coffer by way of taxes…
As per international rules, no any extra amount is charged if payment is made by Debit Card. Because customer’s money is immediately debited from his bank account. MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) is only chargeable if payment is made through Credit Cards.
But in India payment through Debit Card also charged with MDR. Most of the shops/merchants charge 2% extra, if payment is made by Debit Card also. This is totally wrong in India.
For example I purchased a Hero Pleasure, the dealer straightway told me that 2% will be charged extra if payment is made by Debit card or ATM Card. I had to go to nearby ATM and draw cash.
In India the merchants clearly tell that, bank charges 1.5% to 1.9% for these Card payments. The Banks tell that most of the Cards (Debit or Credit) are controlled/managed by International companies like Visa/Maestero, whom the bank has to pay 1% or more as commission/fees.
So more than 1% of Card transactions outflows from India to foreign unnecessarily, which may accounts in more than 1000 crores. Indian Government must establish a National Hub agency like Visa/Maestro in India to control the outflow of Indian money.
If payment is made by Debit/ATM cards, customers should not be charged any extra, instead of it, 1% discount must be given to him or credited to his Bank Account.
Please pass this to Hon’ble finance minister in National Interest.