nokia tax dispute in india
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Nokia Tax dispute in IndiaTRANSCRIPT
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 1/9
Mrunalhttp://mrunal.org
[Economy]NokiaTaxRow:RoyaltyPayment,ChennaiPlant,FinlandDTAA,MicrosoftTakeover,UNICITRAL,TDS,WithholdingTaxexplainedPostedBySupportStaffOn15/05/2014@11:54pmInEconomy|81Comments
PrologueRoyalties:Drainofwealth#1:Quantitativerestrictiononroyalties#2:TaxonRoyaltiespaidRoyalties:TDS(Taxdeductionatsource)WhatHappenedinNokiaRoyaltycase?Timeline:NokiaRoyaltyCaseNokiasexcusesNokiascurrentlegalstrategyUNCITRAL/NokiaBIPAJayaLalithasproblem?MockQuestions
PrologueUpdateIhadtomakesomefixesinthesitetheme.IFthesiteisnotdisplayedproperlyinyourbrowserclearcache(control+shift+delkeytogether).formoretroubleshootclickme
UPSC(Mains)GeneralStudiesPaper2:WriteanoteonthestructureandfunctionsofUNCITRAL.Interviewquestions:WhatdoyouknowaboutthetaxcontroversyofNokiasChennaiplant?HowisNokiastaxdisputedifferentorsimilartoVodafoneHutchcontroversy?WillthisaffecttakeoverbyMicrosoft?
Royalties:DrainofwealthWheneverMNCssetupsubsidiarycompaniesin3rdworldcountries,theykeepdesignpatentsinfirstworldHeadquarterinUSA,UKetc.Example,incaseofNokia,alldesignpatents,softwarepatentsareheldbymainbosscompanyinFinland.So,wheneverNokiassubsidiarycompaniesinIndia,PakistanorSomaliamanufactureanyhandset=>royaltyispaidtoitsparentcompanyinFinland.Aftersubtractingsuchroyaltypayment,staffsalary,lightbill,officerent,rawmaterialcostetc.=>profitleft.Highertheroyalty=lessprofitforsubsidiary(Indian)company=lesscorporatetaxforIndiangovernmentanddividendtoIndianshareholders(ifany.)
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 2/9
TopreventthisDrainofwealththroughroyalties,IndianGovernmentusestwomethods:
QuantitativerestrictiononroyaltiestaxonforeignparentthatearnsroyaltiesLetscheckthemonebyone:
#1:QuantitativerestrictiononroyaltiesProductSalesoccurringon
maximumroyaltythatcanbepaidtoforeignparentifforeigncompanygaveustechnologytransfer
ifnotechnologytransfer
Indiansoil 5% 1%Exportedabroad 8% 2%Inotherwords,ifforeigncompanytransferstechnologytoitsIndiansubsidiaryweallowthemtotakebackmoreroyaltiesasagestureofgoodwill.Maximum8%meansifoneNokiaphonesellsforRs.1000,thenNokia(India)cansentupto80rupeestoitsFinlandparent,asroyaltypayment.
#2:TaxonRoyaltiespaidWhenIndiansubsidiarysendsroyaltyca$htoforeignparent,Theforeignparentcompanyhastopay(direct)taxonit.(becausethisisonetypeofincomeearnedfromIndia.)
TDSonRoyaltiesvariesasperDTAARoyaltytaxonforeigncompany
ifIndiahasDoubletaxationavoidanceagreement(DTAA)withthatcountry
10%(IncaseofFinland)1520%(incaseofUSA)
IfIndiadoesnthaveDTAAwiththatcountry 25%
Royalties:TDS(Taxdeductionatsource)
TaxonRoyaltyPayment(intheory)
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 3/9
LetsassumeNokiaIndiasoldhandsetsworthxyzcroreandhastopayRs.25,000croretoFinlandparentasroyaltyforthesoftwarepatentsinthosemobilephones.
TaxonRoyaltyPayment(inRealLife/TDS)
INTHEORY INREALLIFE(TDS)
FinlandCompanyreceivesRs.25,000crore.FinlandCompanysends10%royaltytaxtoIncometaxdepartmentofIndia.(=Rs.2500crore)
NokiasIndiancompanywithholdstheRs.2500croreroyaltytax.SendsitdirectlytoourIncomeTaxdepartment.Theremaining25000minus2500=Rs.22,500crorerupeesaresenttoFinlandparentasroyaltypayments.ThisTDStaxdeductionatsource.Americanscallittaxwithholding.NewspapersusethesetermsinterchangeablysometimesTDS,sometimeswithholdingtax.
WhatHappenedinNokiaRoyaltycase?NokiaFinlandownsthepatentformobilesoftwareusedinNokiaGSMhandsets.Between2006to2013,NokiaIndiasent5billionDollars(=~25,000crorerupees)toitsFinlandparentasroyaltypaymentforthatsoftware.ObviouslyIncometaxdepartmentdeserves10%TDSonthis=Rs.2500crores.(asperDTAAwithFinland.)Numbersnotimportant.Hindusays2080,Hindusometimesevensays21000crore(i.e.approx.totalamountsent).DeccanChroniclesaysRs.25,000croredisputeand10%=2500asTDSliability.Ipick2500becauseitseasytoremember.
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 4/9
Anywayswhoneedstopaythisamount?NokiaIndia.(recalltheTDSconceptwejustlearned,senderhastowithholdmoney.)ButNokiaIndiadidntcutTDS.NokiaIndiadidntpayourIncomeTaxdepartmentRs.2500croresastaxonroyaltypayment.hencethiscontroversy.SinceNokiadidnotpaytaxesontime,ITdepartmentputs100%penalty+interestrate=nowmorethan6500croreneedstobepaid.(asofDec2013)
Timeline:NokiaRoyaltyCase1995 NokiabeginsoperationsinIndia.SetsupofficesinMumbai,Chennaietc.
2006NokiastartsFactoryinTamilnadusSriPerumbudurSEZnearChennai.(hencenewspaperscallitChennaifactoryorChennaiplant.)
2010 IndiaandFinlandsignsDoubleTaxationavoidanceagreement(DTAA)
2013,Jan.
IncometaxofficialsraidNokiasfactoryinSriPerumbudurSEZ.TheydemandRs.2080croreastaxonroyaltypayments.Nokiadidnotcomply.ITdepartmentfreezesthebankaccountsofNokia
2013,Sept.
MicrosoftagreestobuyNokiafor7.2billionUSD.
2013,Dec.
DelhiHCfreezesNokiaIndiasassets,inotherwordstheycannotbetransferredtoMicrosoft.ButNokiaIndiacomeswithJugaad,wellkeepChennaiplantoutoftheMicrosoftdealITdepartmentdigsdeeperandfindsanotherTDSfraudincopyrightspayments.Totalliability:6500insoftwareroyalty+4500incopyrightpaymenttoanothercorp.ofNokia
2014,May
NokiasendslettertoMohanforresolvingthismatterunderFinlandIndiaBilateralInvestmentTreaty(BIT).
Nokiasexcusesyes,IndiaFinlandDTAApermits10%TDSonRoyaltiesBUTMobilesoftwarearenotlistedinthatRoyaltydefinitionunderDTAA.Forus,mobilesoftwareisarawmaterial,sohowcanyoudemandtaxonmoneypaidtopurchaseitfromFinland?SinceourfactoryisinSEZ,wedontneedtocutTDSonroyaltypaymentstoFinland.AtmaxwellpayyouRs.3000crorestoresolvethistaxdispute.WevealsoplayedroleinIndiasgrowthstory.Wegaveemploymenttomorethan30,000Indians.InChennaiplantalone,8000peoplework,20%ofthemwomen.(Againnumbersnotimportant,sometimesHindusays8000,sometimesitsays6500.)Weveinvestedmorethan650millionEurosinIndia.Wearenotascamcompany.ButIFyoucontinuetreatingMNCgiantslikeNokiaandVodafoneasscamcompanies,thenitllreduceincomingFDItoIndia.
NokiascurrentlegalstrategyIfNokiasChennaiplantisauctioned=itllbarelyfetchRs.20003000crores.ButIfNokiahonestlypaysTDS(penalty+interest)toITDept=morethan6500crores.
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 5/9
Therefore,Nokiaispreparedfortheworstpossiblescenario:letthecasecontinueincourttaarikhpetaarikh.Ifwearedefeated,wellonlylosetheChennaifactory.Stillour6500MINUS3000=3500croreswillbesaved.Therefore,NokiahaskeptChennaiplantoutsidetheMicrosoftDeal.Meaning,MicrosoftwilltakeoverNokiasallfactories,offices,staffBUTnotChennaiplant.Nokiahasevenofferedvoluntaryretirementscheme(VRS)toChennaifactoryworkers.TheyllalsogetentrepreneurshiptrainingunderNokiasBridgeprogram.ChennaiplantwillcontinueproductionasSubcontracter/outsourcedfactory.TheyllsupplyhandsetstoMicrosoftownedNokiabrand.So,evenifNokiaisdefeatedinIndiancourt,Microsoftwillhavenolegalliabilities,noobligationtogivethetaxmoney.Andfinally,somemiracle(orsuitcasebaazi)couldhappenandnewlyelectedgovernmentmaygiverelieftoNokia,andwholematterwillbeputincoldstorage.
UNCITRALMay2014:NokiasendslettertoMohanforresolvingthisroyaltytaxmatterunderFinlandIndiaBilateralInvestmentTreaty(BIT).ThisBITtreatyprovidesthatifdisputecannotberesolvedinthreemonthsafternoticeTHEN
OptionA
Partycanapproachlocalcourt=>wealreadylearnedNokiaspresentstrategyhere.(akaTaarikhpeTaarikh,atmaxauctionthefactory).AND/OR
OptionB
PartycanapproachforarbitrationunderUNCITRAL.
UNCITRALisalsoinnewsbecauseofVodafonesneverendinglegaldisputes.Therefore,UNCITRALbecomesimportantforUPSCgeneralstudiespaperIIlastpointofsyllabusImportantInternationalinstitutions,agenciesandforatheirstructure,mandate.
MockQuestionQ.WriteanoteonthestructureandfunctionsofUNCITRAL(200words)
UnitedNationsCommissiononInternationaltradelawisthecorelegalbodyofUNsetupinlate60s.(1966)
Structure:
60memberselectedfromUNGA(GeneralAssembly)Term:sixyears.Halfofthemembersexpireeverythreeyears.ElectionQuotastoensuregeographicalrepresentationfromentireworld.Indiaisalsoamember.Itstermwillexpirein2016.UnlikeIMF,heretheMembersdonthavetobearadditionalfinancialburden.UNCITRALsbudgetisentirelypaidbyUNGeneralAssembly.EvenNonmemberstates,international/regionalbodiescanparticipateAnnualsessions@NewYorkandViennaalternatively.Decisionbyconsensusratherthanvoting.Functions
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 6/9
Reducelegalobstacles,facilitatesmoothflowofinternationaltradeandinvestmentharmonizetradelawsofallcountriesDraftsmodeltradelawsonimportexport,internationalpayment,ecommerce,internationalarbitration,publicprocurementetc.Helpsmembercountriestoadoptthem.Coordinationwithotherinternational,regionalandnationalbodiesfortradelaws.Draftsrulesforarbitrationfordisputeresolution.Parties(companiesorstates)canusetheserulesasguidingprinciplestosettletheirdisputes.Otherthanthat,UNCITRALitselfdoesntappointarbitratorsorprivatejudgestosortanydisputes~210words.
SidenotesQuotasysteminUNCITRALelection
GEOGRAPHICALREGIONQUOTASEATSAfrica 14Asia 14EastEurope 8WestEurope 14LatinAmerica+Caribbean 10Totalmembership 60
JayaLalithasproblem?
JayalalithademandstaxsayingNokiadidnotfurnishExportPROOFs!
SofarwelearnedwhatsChindusproblem(=NokiaIndiadidnotcutTDSonRoyaltypaymenttoFinland)=>UNCITRAL.ButevenTamilnadugovernmenthassentaseparatenoticetoNokiaIndia.So,whatsJayalalthasproblem?Ans.VATevasion.WelearnedthatNokiasfactoryislocatedinSriPerumbudurSpecialeconomiczones(SEZ).
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 7/9
InSEZ,factoriesaregiventaxreliefforafirstfewyears.Accordingly,Nokiawasgivenfollowingtaxreliefs/conessions:(Central)TAXIFHANDSETSAREEXPORTEDExciseduty 0%ExportDuty 1%ButthesetaxreliefsapplyONLYifNokiaIndiashandsetsareexportedabroad.IftheyresoldindomesticIndianmarket,thenTamilnadugovernmentcandemandValueAddedtax(VAT).Jayalathia(TNgovernment)
NokiaIndiahasnotgivenusproofthatallhandsetswereexported.WebelievemanyweresoldindomesticIndianmarket.Thereforewedemand~2400croresasVAT
Nokiasexcuse
documentproofs=nearly16lakhpages.Obviouslywecantsendthemall.Bettersendyourofficialstoinspectitinouroffice!
April2014,MadrasHighcourtorder
NokiaIndiawillhavetodeposit10%=240crores.Tamilnaducommercialtaxdepartmenthavetoinspectrecordsandpassorder.GKRajivSuri NOKIACEOfromManipaluniversity.SatyaNadellaMicrosoftCEO.Bytheway,hisfatherwasanIAS.Helsinki capitalofFinland
MockQuestionsQ1.WhichofthefollowingisanillustrationofTaxwithholdingNorms?
AfterreceivingroyaltiesfromitsIndiansubsidiary,NokiaFinlandsendstaxproceedstoIndiangovernment.WhilesellingABCCompanytoVodafoneLondon,HutchHongkongwithholdsxyzcroresasCapitalgainstax(CGT)andpaystoIndiangovernment.WhilebuyingABCCompanyfromHutchHongkong,VodafoneLondonwithholdsxyzcroresasCapitalgainstax(CGT)andpaystoIndiangovernment.NoneofaboveQ2.WhyareNokiaIndiaandIncometaxdepartmentinvolvedinacourtlitigationjustbeforetakeoverbyMicrosoft?
BecausewhilesellingthecompanytoMicrosoft,Nokiadidnotpaycapitalgainstax(CGT)toITDepartmentofIndia.BecausewhilebuyingthecompanyfromNokia,Microsoftdidnotwithholdcapitalgainstax(CGT)forITdepartmentofIndia.BecauseNokiaFinlandsolditssharesofNokiaIndialtd.toMicrosoftviaapostofficecompanyinCaymanIslandstoevadecapitalgainstax(CGT)fromITdepartmentofIndia.NoneofAbove.Q3.ConsiderfollowingstatementsabouttheTaxonRoyaltiespaidtoforeign
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 8/9
entities.
ItisanexampleofIndirectTaxInreallife,itiscollectedfromthereceiverandnotfromthesender.Itis100%exemptedincaseofroyaltiessenttocountriesthathaveDTAAagreementwithIndia.Itis100%exemptedincaseofroyaltiessenttoNRIauthorsthatpayregularIncometaxinIndia.Answerchoices
only1and3only2and3Only1,3and4.NoneQ4.CorrectstatementsaboutUnitedNationsCommissiononInternationaltradelaw.
AllthememberstatesofIMFareexofficiomembersofUNCITRAL.IndiasmembershiptoUNCITRALexpiredinJanuary2014.OnlysovereignstatescanapproachUNCITRALforarbitration.Noneofabove.Q5.WhenNokiaorVodafonesayswewantarbitrationunderUNCITRALtosettleourtaxdisputewithIndiangovernment,itmeans___.
WewantourcasetobeheardatUNCITRALsinternationaltradelawcourtlocatedinVienna.WewantUNCITRALappointedForeignJudgetoresolvethedispute.WewantUNCITRALsexecutivebodytosettlethiscase.NoneofaboveOfficialanswersC:thebuyerhastowithholdtax&paytogovernment.TDS=taxwithholdingnorm.D:Noneofabove.Nokia=royaltyTDSmatterD:None.AllstatementsarewrongD:NoneofaboveD:NoneofaboveVisitMrunal.org/EconomyFormoreonMoney,Banking,Finance,TaxationandEconomy.
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5/2/2015 MrunalExplained:NokiaTaxRow,Chennaiplantcontroversy
http://mrunal.org/2014/05/economynokiataxrowroyaltypaymentchennaiplantfinlanddtaamicrosofttakeoverunicitraltdswithholdingtaxexplained. 9/9