BUYING HOMES: WHY TAX POLICIES NEED A TWEAK
Mint Mumbai|January 15, 2024
Current terms encourage speculation in real estate, which doesn't work well for those looking to buy homes to live in
Vivek Kaul
BUYING HOMES: WHY TAX POLICIES NEED A TWEAK

India's income tax system is built in favour of the non-salaried rich. One facet of this is income tax laws encouraging investment in real estate. Many investors buy residential homes and then keep them locked. They drive up home prices and a few end up cornering a good chunk of the residential real estate market. They also make renting difficult. And this is not environmentally friendly as well.

Given these reasons, income tax laws that incentivize investing in real estate need to be rewritten. The agenda can perhaps be set with the interim budget which is due on 1 February and then moved further once the budget for 2024-25 is presented in July after the Lok Sabha elections. In this piece, we will look at why this needs to be done and what exactly the government can do.

HOME LOANS

Take a look at the chart. It plots two curves. The ratio of priority home loans given by banks to overall home loans and the ratio of non-priority home loans given by banks to overall home loans.

Now, before we analyse the chart, it's important to state a few things. First, priority sector home loans are defined as: "Loans to individuals up to ₹35 lakh in metropolitan centres (with a population of 1 million and above) and up to ₹25 lakh in other centres... provided the overall cost of the dwelling unit in the metropolitan centre and at other centres does not exceed ₹45 lakh and ₹30 lakh, respectively." The remaining home loans are non-priority home loans.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 15, 2024 من Mint Mumbai.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 15, 2024 من Mint Mumbai.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من MINT MUMBAI مشاهدة الكل
IMAX India box office collections dip 36%
Mint Mumbai

IMAX India box office collections dip 36%

Ontario, Canada-based large-screen format cinema technology firm IMAX saw its India box-office collections fall by 36% in 2024, with Hollywood and local language films together delivering just $14.7 million in earnings.

time-read
1 min  |
February 17, 2025
Need for speed new priority as Centre trims road target
Mint Mumbai

Need for speed new priority as Centre trims road target

India plans to more than double the length of high-speed roads in the coming fiscal and target less of two- and four-lane highways, as the focus shifts to offering faster connectivity between key economic centres across the country.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 17, 2025
JioHotstar, Nielsen partner for ad data
Mint Mumbai

JioHotstar, Nielsen partner for ad data

New OTT platform Jio-Hotstar, that emerged from the union of Jio Cinema and Disney+Hotstar, has tied up with global media audience measurement firm Nielsen to launch third-party verified advertising data starting with the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tourney, marking a major and long-pending shift towards transparency in digital ad measurement.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 17, 2025
Mint Mumbai

UK debuts £2.5bn steel plan after US tariff threat

The UK government debuted a new plan to protect jobs in the country's steel industry just days after US President Donald Trump threatened to introduce 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from all countries.

time-read
1 min  |
February 17, 2025
For influencers crowding Kumbh, the struggle is real
Mint Mumbai

For influencers crowding Kumbh, the struggle is real

The social media opportunity of a lifetime—the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, which happens once in 144 years—has turned out to be a difficult one for the teeming army of influencers to convey footage from, especially when it comes to commercial videos shot for brands.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 17, 2025
Plans afoot to curb misuse of Tapentadol, Pregabalin drugs
Mint Mumbai

Plans afoot to curb misuse of Tapentadol, Pregabalin drugs

Both these are prescription drugs but government plans to curb their use as narcotics

time-read
2 mins  |
February 17, 2025
Sebi plans to streamline asset claims
Mint Mumbai

Sebi plans to streamline asset claims

The markets regulator has proposed detailed guidelines to manage unclaimed assets and improve the return processes for investors to prevent misuse

time-read
4 mins  |
February 17, 2025
The ₹10 beverage market is starting to get crowded
Mint Mumbai

The ₹10 beverage market is starting to get crowded

From buttermilk to fruit drinks and sparkling beverages, consumer companies are driving deeper into the market for ₹10 packs.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 17, 2025
Startups Target Profitability, Ditching Growth-at-Any-Cost
Mint Mumbai

Startups Target Profitability, Ditching Growth-at-Any-Cost

Over the next two years, several early-stage startups in India are expecting to break even

time-read
3 mins  |
February 17, 2025
Recent business books to add to your TBR list
Mint Mumbai

Recent business books to add to your TBR list

Overwhelmed by the disruptions and disasters of the world of business? Take a deep breath and dive into these books

time-read
2 mins  |
February 17, 2025