CBDT signs 125 agreements to simplify tax payments for large multinational firms

In a record-breaking achievement, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed 125 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in the financial year 2023-24. This marks a significant increase of 31% from the previous year, totaling to 641 APAs since the inception of the programme.

These agreements were established with the aim of promoting ease of doing business, particularly for multinational corporations engaged in cross-border transactions with their group entities. The CBDT statement highlights the importance of these agreements in providing certainty to taxpayers in transfer pricing.

The increased number of APAs is a result of mutual agreements with India’s treaty partners like Australia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, the UK, and the US. This collaboration not only brings certainty to international transactions but also offers protection against double taxation, benefiting taxpayers for up to nine years.

The APA Scheme specifies methods of pricing and determines the arm’s length price of transactions in advance, providing taxpayers with a roadmap for the next five years. The option to rollback APAs for the preceding four years further solidifies tax certainty and ensures a smoother process for businesses operating in India’s dynamic economy.