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GAAR
Decoded

November 2017
 Contents
Foreword 3
What is GAAR? 4
Concept of tax evasion, avoidance and mitigation 5
Run up to GAAR 6
Operational framework of GAAR 7
Safe Harbour 8
Conditions to be satisfied for an IAA 9
Arrangements that lack commercial substance 10
Implications of invoking GAAR 11
Procedure for invoking GAAR 12
Redressal mechanism 13
Tax certainty under GAAR regime 14
Recent clarifications by the Government 15
Interplay between GAAR and the Multilateral Instrument under BEPS 16
Call to action 17
GAAR—key takeaways 18
To sum up 19
How we can help you 20

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Foreword
The introduction of General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) is a watershed
event in the evolution of India’s tax policy and legislation. In today’s context,
any discussion on structuring of a transaction or an arrangement would be
incomplete without debating its potential exposure to the provisions
of GAAR.

GAAR has been enacted in some countries such as Australia, the Netherlands,
Canada, New Zealand, China, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United
States, France and Germany, and over the years, some of these countries
have developed and implemented jurisprudence on the subject. In India,
GAAR has been made effective from 1 April 2017. However, even prior to
the introduction of codified GAAR in India, Indian Courts dealt with tax
avoidance by drawing an inference to decisions pronounced by English
Courts in cases such as that of the Duke of Westminster, wherein it was
affirmed that if a document or transaction is bona fide, the tax authorities are
restricted from dissecting it to arrive at some other underlying substance.

This principle has resonated in Indian Courts in the rulings of the

Azadi Bachao Andolan and the Vodafone cases. However, the Courts have also
held that where transactions were found to be ‘colourable’ or ‘dubious’, such
transactions could be disregarded by applying doctrines including piercing
of the corporate veil and substance over form. Therefore, the introduction
of GAAR as a codified law was imperative to address widespread issues of
tax avoidance as against tax mitigation. The big question is—what does the
future hold for structuring of transactions in the GAAR regime?

In India, Transfer Pricing (TP) provisions, which are in the genre of a Specific
Anti Avoidance Rule (SAAR), were introduced in India in 2001, while many
countries had these provisions in place for a much longer period. However,
since the introduction of the TP provisions, tax controversies have risen
in several areas and litigation has increased exponentially. In fact, no
other country has generated litigation of this magnitude. In the past, the
Revenue authorities labelled certain transactions as sham or subterfuge, and
disregarded them for tax purposes, even when GAAR provisions were not
enacted. Consequently, there is a lurking apprehension in business people’s
minds about arbitrary application of the provisions of GAAR.

The Government has been perceptive of these challenges and held back
its introduction of GAAR for more than two years. It has set up a standing
committee to provide input on the draft law, and introduced Safe Harbour
and levels of approval before GAAR is implemented by Tax Officers.

However, despite these measures, in view of the wide nature of GAAR

provisions and diversity of situations in which GAAR can be applied, there
still are many unresolved issues, which may result in uncertainty in people’s
minds, which is a deterrent to business growth and investment.

Under the GAAR regime, taxpayers will be required to demonstrate

substance and commercial reasons for every transaction or arrangement that
leads to an increased emphasis on documentation of the business rationale
for any transaction or reorganisation.

This report aims to decode the provisions of GAAR, and enable a basic
understanding of these, the conditions that will need to be satisfied to apply
GAAR as well as the approval and redressal mechanisms, if GAAR is to be
implemented.

GAAR Decoded 3
What is GAAR?

It is clear that the introduction of Many developed countries have genuine, they would not disregard or
GAAR will be a momentous event in implemented GAAR. Their tax laws go beyond the existing structure of
the evolution of India’s tax policy and have incorporated principles similar such a transaction or arrangement.
legislation. In simple terms, GAAR to those effected in India to authorise However, if the courts found a
codifies the principle of substance their Revenue Authorities to deny transaction to be ‘colourable’ or
over form and brings into the law tax benefits for transactions they ‘dubious’, they disregarded these
principles that several landmark cases consider impermissible avoidance by applying doctrines, including
have dealt with over the years. arrangements. piercing of the corporate veil and
substance over form.
GAAR empowers the Revenue Before introduction of GAAR in India,
authorities to deal effectively with transactions that were designed With its codification, judicial
and guard against schemes that to avoid tax were dealt with by the precedents will be re-evaluated
are designed for tax avoidance. It implementation of judicial decisions through the prism of GAAR.
strengthens their arms by giving and Specific Anti-Avoidance Rules Therefore, it is essential to
them sweeping powers to disregard (SAAR), including Transfer Pricing understand the fine line between
or re-characterise transactions regulations, by imposing the acceptable tax mitigation and actual
and re-determine the resultant tax mandates of the Income-tax Act tax avoidance. The lack of clarity
consequences, if such transactions are (the Act). The courts consistently in this area exposes taxpayers to
designed with the main purpose of affirmed the cardinal principle that potential tax-related risks.
availing tax benefit(s) or if they lack if a document or transaction was
commercial substance.

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Concept of tax evasion, avoidance
and mitigation

Tax avoidance Tax mitigation

Tax avoidance includes actions
Tax mitigation is a ‘positive’ term
taken by a taxpayer, none of
in the context of a situation where
which are illegal or forbidden by
taxpayers take advantage of a
the law.
fiscal incentive provided to them
However, although these are by a tax legislation by complying
Tax evasion not prohibited by the law, they with its conditions and taking
are considered undesirable and cognisance of the economic
Illegality, wilful suppression of
inequitable, since they undermine consequences of their actions.
facts, misrepresentation and
the objective of effective Tax mitigation is permitted under
fraud—all constitute tax evasion,
collection of revenue. the Act.
which is prohibited under law.

GAAR Decoded 5
Run up to GAAR

16 March 2012
GAAR was introduced in the Finance Bill
2012 (with effect from 1 April 2012).*

16 March 2012
GAAR was deferred till
1 April 2014 on enactment of
the Finance Bill 2012.

28 June 2012
Draft GAAR guidelines were released
by the Government of India.

13 July 2012
An expert committee was
constituted to review and
rework GAAR guidelines.
1 September 2012
The Committee’s report was published.

14 January 2013
GAAR was postponed for another
two years and was to become
applicable from 1 April 2016.

2015
Implementation of the Finance Bill
2015 deferred GAAR for one year. It has
been applicable from 1 April 2017.**

*GAAR was introduced for the first appropriately refine the law, redressal and appellate mechanisms
time in the Direct Tax Code Bill, 2009, based on the recommendations for taxpayers if GAAR is invoked
and a committee was formed by the of the committee headed by Dr. in their cases. India was an active
Central Board of Direct Tax (CBDT) Parthasarathi Shome, the former participant in the Organisation
and gave its recommendations advisor to the erstwhile Union for Economic Co-operation and
on formulation of guidelines and Finance Minister. The insightful Development’s (OECD’s) Base
circulars to ensure that the ruling was input provided by this committee Erosion Profit Shifting (BEPS)
not applied indiscriminately. has enabled the Government to project. It was therefore desirable
build in safeguards to ensure that that GAAR was implemented as a
**Deferral of GAAR aimed to GAAR provisions are not routinely part of its comprehensive legislative
allow additional time for investors’ applied and also provide for adequate package after finalisation of the
sentiments to improve and also BEPS project.

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Operational framework of GAAR

Chapter X-A of the Act includes GAAR Avoidance Arrangement (IAA). Once the Revenue authorities decide
provisions, which have an overriding Furthermore, under its provisions, to treat an arrangement as an IAA, the
effect on the other provisions of the certain transactions are deemed to onus to prove otherwise is on taxpayers.
Act. GAAR will apply to transactions, lack commercial substance. Consequently, they are required to
notwithstanding any other provisions substantiate the commercial reasons for
of the Act. GAAR is not merely restricted to such arrangements and that availing
cross-border transactions, but also tax benefit was not the main purpose
GAAR applies to any arrangement applies to domestic arrangements. for these transactions.
that is considered an Impermissible

Impermissible Avoidance Agreement

Under the earlier version of GAAR that was proposed to be introduced, an
arrangement could be declared an IAA, if the main purpose or one of its
main purposes was to obtain a tax benefit.
• The current amended version limits an IAA to only those transactions
where “the main purpose” is to obtain a tax benefit in addition to
satisfaction of at least one of the four tainted elements tests.

• The term “arrangement” has a wide ambit and also includes a step or
part of this arrangement.

• Where the main purpose of a step or part of an arrangement is to obtain

a tax benefit, the provisions of GAAR would apply, regardless of the
main purpose of the transaction being commercial in nature.

GAAR Decoded 7
Safe Harbour

Safe Harbour rules apply to:

A quantum of tax benefits Arrangements involving certain Arrangements entailing income

below below a monetary limit transactions with Foreign accruing or arising to a person
of INR 3 crore in aggregate for Institutional Investors from transfer of an investment
all parties in a transaction in a made before 1 April 2017
particular year

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Conditions to be satisfied for an IAA

Creation of rights or obligations (not ordinarily implemented)

1 between persons dealing at arm’s length

Results, directly or indirectly, in misuse or abuse of the

21 provisions of the Act

Lacks commercial substance or is deemed to be deficient

3 in commercial substance in whole or in part

4
Main purpose to Is entered or carried out in a manner not ordinarily
obtain tax benefit employed for bona fide purposes

Primary Tainted
Element IAA
condition
Test

Main purpose—new Subjectivity in ascertaining

dimensions to be examined the main purpose of an
arrangement:
Codified GAAR varies materially
from judicial GAAR, which focuses What would be considered the
on arrangements as a whole, whereas ‘main’ purpose of an arrangement—
the former examines even individual elements or factors relevant for
steps and parts of an arrangement. arriving at a conclusion?
For example, consolidation of profit-
Where there is more than one
and loss-making businesses may be
main purpose for an arrangement,
driven by commercial consideration
including the purpose of obtaining
as a whole, whereas mergers
a tax benefit, the key issue to be
(merging loss-making into profit-
considered is whether the Revenue
making entities, or vice versa) may be
can disregard the other main purposes
guided by tax-related considerations.
and only focus on the tax benefit.
Codified GAAR makes it possible
for the Revenue to examine the
individual steps in an arrangement,
i.e., the direction of a merger.

GAAR Decoded 9
Arrangements that lack commercial
substance

An arrangement will be deemed to be tax benefits) on the business risks or

lacking commercial substance (in the net cash flows of the parties to the
following circumstances) if it does not arrangement:
have a significant effect (apart from

The substance or effect of the It does not have any significant

arrangement as a whole differs effect on the business risk or cash
significantly from the individual flow of any party other than the
steps taken tax benefit to it

Deemed to lack
commercial
substance Round-trip financing, accommodating
party, elements that offset or cancel each
Involves location of asset, other, transactions conducted through
transaction or residence of any one or more persons to disguise the value
party without any substantial of the deals, location, source, ownership,
commercial purpose source or control of an arrangement

Factors relevant but not adequate for a decision on whether an

arrangement lacks commercial substance:

The period of time for which an arrangement has existed

₹
Payment of taxes, directly or indirectly, in an arrangement

The existence of an exit route

Therefore, the circumstances in each case will need to be carefully

evaluated to determine the existence or absence of an IAA.

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Implications of invoking GAAR

Disregarding, combining Re-assignment of place Disregarding of

or re-characterising entire of residence, or site of corporate structure
or part of an arrangement assets or transaction

Re-allocation of income, Denial of treaty benefits Re-characterisation of

expenses, relief, etc. equity-debt, income,
expenses, relief, etc.

Please note that in the event of a particular consequence being applied in the
hands of one of the participants of an IAA, a corresponding adjustment in the
hands of another participant will not be allowed.

GAAR Decoded 11
Procedure for invoking GAAR

Tax Officer Principal Commissioner/ Approving Panel

Commissioner of Income
Tax (CIT)

• The Tax Officer may examine • If the CIT is of the opinion • The Panel will provide the
arrangements for an IAA that GAAR is to be invoked, taxpayer the opportunity to
inquiry. he or she will issue a show be heard.
cause notice to the taxpayer.
• He or she could refer • No invocation of GAAR is
the arrangement to the • The taxpayer is to furnish required if the Approving
Principal Commissioner or his or her objections within Panel is satisfied with the
Commissioner of Income Tax the period mandated in explanation or submission
for him or her to declare it as the notice (this period not provided by the taxpayer.
an IAA, if he or she considers exceeding 60 days).
such reference necessary. • If it is not satisfied, the
• If satisfied that the Approving Panel will issue
arrangement is an IAA, the directions declaring an
CIT will make a reference to arrangement an IAA.
the Approving Panel.
• Directions will be passed
• If satisfied that GAAR need within six months from the
not be invoked, the CIT will end of the month on which
pass an order favournig the the reference was received
taxpayer. from the Commissioner.

Please note:

The direction of the Approving If the Principal Commissioner While a GAAR inquiry can be
Panel is binding on the of Income Tax or the Approving initiated during the course of
Commissioner of Income Tax as Panel has held that an an assessment, the Tax Officer
well as on taxpayers. No appeal arrangement is permissible and Tax Commissioner can
is permitted against its order. for one year, and facts and recommend invocation of GAAR,
circumstances remain the same not only for the tax year for
in subsequent years, GAAR will which proceedings are pending,
not be invoked for these years. but also for other tax years
(earlier as well as future years).

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Redressal mechanism

Law

Remedy under the Act Constitutional remedy

Remedy
A taxpayerunder theright
has the Act to appeal to the Income A writ can be filed before the jurisdictional High
Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) against an order Court against the orders of the Approving panel if
passed by the Revenue along with the direction of this violates the principles of natural justice or if there
the Approving Panel. (A subsequent appeal may be is misapplication of the law. (However, it remains to
filed before a High Court and the Supreme Court.) be seen how the courts will view a writ petition filed
against a reference made by the Assessing Officer to
the CIT or by the CIT to the Approving Panel.)

GAAR Decoded 13
Tax certainty under the GAAR regime

In order to achieve tax certainty in of their transactions, may approach An application for Advance Ruling is
respect of a proposed transaction, the AAR to determine whether such to be made in the prescribed form and
taxpayers may apply for a ruling from arrangements are IAAs. A ruling by submitted with the applicable fees.
the Authority for Advance Ruling the AAR would be binding on them On admission of the application by the
(AAR) to determine the applicability and the tax authorities in respect AAR, a ruling needs to be delivered
of GAAR for transactions they of the proposed transactions. It is within six months. (This period is
propose to undertake. important to note in this context that much longer at present.)
the CBDT has recently clarified that
Furthermore, taxpayers (resident and GAAR will not be invoked if the AAR
non-resident), regardless of the value rules in favour of a taxpayer.

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Recent clarifications by the Government

Queries Clarification provided by the CBDT Our comments

Does grandfathering The option of grandfathering will be available Interestingly, the Circular goes further than the recently
apply to instruments for investments made before 1 April 2017. This amended India- Mauritius or India-Singapore tax treaties
that are compulsorily is in respect of instruments that are mandated in relation to the grandfathering benefits provided for
convertible from one to be compulsorily convertible from one form to convertible instruments, bonus or split issues.
form to another if these another, at terms finalised at the time they are
have been acquired issued.
before 1 April 2017?
Moreover, shares emanating from splitting or
consolidation of holdings, or by issuance of a
bonus in respect of shares acquired prior to 1
April 2017 (in the hands of the same investor),
will also be eligible for grandfathering.

Does grandfathering For the purpose of grandfathering, investments It will be imperative for corporates to review their existing
extend to all forms of will include assets that are held by an enterprise inter-company loan arrangements, debt instruments, royalty
investments, including to earn an income by way of dividends, interest, or service fees and pay-out transactions from the perspective
lease contracts (e.g., air rentals, as well as for capital appreciation. Since of GAAR.
craft leases) and loan lease contracts and loan arrangements are by
arrangements? themselves not ‘investments’, grandfathering will
not be available for these.

What is the interplay GAAR and SAAR will co-exist and will be While the CBDT has clarified that GAAR and SAAR will
between GAAR applicable, as required, based on the facts and operate simultaneously, the courts have held that specific
and SAAR? circumstances of a case. provisions will override the general provisions. Therefore,
the Courts may hold GAAR and SAAR (such as Transfer
Pricing or Thin Capitalisation) to be mutually exclusive.
This aspect of the law may be strongly litigated.

Can GAAR be invoked GAAR will not be invoked if a case of avoidance is India’s tax treaty with Mauritius, like the India- Singapore
on satisfaction of the adequately addressed by a LOB tax treaty, requires satisfaction of the LOB clause to enable
Limitation of Benefits in the treaty. capital gain benefits to be availed. A scrutiny of the adequacy
(LOB) clause in a of LOB conditions should not ideally be open to the Revenue
tax treaty? authorities, once such conditions have been negotiated and
settled between two countries. This aspect of the law may be
highly litigated.

What is the applicability GAAR will not apply to arrangements where a It is unlikely that the National Company Law Tribunal
of GAAR to arrangements court or Tribunal has explicitly and adequately (NCLT) will provide an explicit and adequate view on tax
sanctioned by considered the tax implications while sanctioning matters while sanctioning these or arrangements such as
the courts? such arrangements. mergers, de-mergers and capital reduction. Consequently,
even arrangements sanctioned by the NCLT may not be
‘ring-fenced’ from applicability of GAAR.

Can commercial GAAR will not have an interplay with the right It is interesting to note that while the question raised
expediency be challenged of the taxpayer to select or choose a method of before the CBDT was in respect of the commercial
under GAAR? implementing a transaction. expediency of a transaction being challenged under GAAR,
the CBDT has provided a clarification on the method of
implementation of a transaction, rather than on the reasons
for it being undertaken. Judicial precedents have held that
the commercial expediency of a transaction cannot be
challenged by the Revenue.

GAAR Decoded 15
Recent clarifications by the Government

While the CBDT has issued guidance regime, many questions remain
from the perspective of the GAAR unaddressed, e.g., the following:

Can the legal status of an entity, i.e., a firm or body corporate, be

questioned under GAAR provisions?

Can a procedure under the Company Law (e.g., buy-back of shares or

capital reduction under a court scheme) be re-characterised for the
purpose of Income Tax?

Can valuation of an asset be challenged under GAAR provisions?

Interplay between GAAR and the

Multilateral Instrument under BEPS
The Multilateral Instrument (MLI) The PPT is broader in its ambit than PPT), such a structure will have to
was introduced as a part of the BEPS GAAR. Under the PPT, benefits independently pass the Smell Test
Action Plan by the OECD. It will exist emanating from treaties can be mandated by GAAR.
alongside existing tax treaties, to negated if the main or even one of
bring these in line with the measures the principal purposes is to obtain Furthermore, unlike the Approving
set out in the BEPS Action reports a benefit. However, GAAR requires Panel in the case of GAAR (to
in order to address the menace of fulfilment of the Main Purpose determine whether or not a
erosion of the tax base. India signed Test as well as one of the Tainted transaction is an IAA), there is no
the MLI in Paris on 7 June 2017. Element Tests. separate panel or authority to decide
whether the PPT has passed the test
MLI requires all signatories to meet Consequently, if a structure satisfies required by the MLI. In such cases, it
certain treaty-related minimum the requirements of the PPT, it is is likely that an Income Tax Officer
standards to counter abuse of treaties. likely that it will pass the Smell will refuse to provide treaty-related
One of these minimum standards Test required for GAAR as regards benefits on the ground that the
is the Principal Purpose Test (PPT), application of the tax treaty benefit. requirements of the PPT under the
wherein tax treaty benefits can However, in cases where the PPT treaty were not met. This may lead to
be denied if one of the principal is avoided on the ground that the increased litigation.
purposes of an arrangement or benefits are in accordance with the
transaction is to directly or indirectly objective and purpose of the treaty Therefore, the co-existence and
obtain a tax benefit. (a carve-out for application of the related applicability of the MLI and
GAAR are currently uncertain, which
results in anxiety among taxpayers.

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Call to action

With the implementation of GAAR provisions in the Act, effective 1 April 2017, some of the
following routine transactions undertaken by taxpayers will need to be reviewed:

Inbound structures where Restructuring of transactions Trust structures and

the holding company is in a such as mergers, de-mergers, succession planning
low-tax jurisdiction or holds acquisitions, slump sales,
Intellectual Property (IP) in a selective buy-backs, gifts of
low-tax jurisdiction shares and conversion of Limited
Liability Partnerships (LLPs)

Cash repatriation structures Transfer of land using Employee benefit plans and
including inter-group partnership structures Thin Capitalisation planning
transactions involving royalty, avenues
service fees, etc.

GAAR Decoded 17
GAAR–key takeaways

Like some developed countries, India with SAAR and their application Aggressive application of Transfer
has now codified GAAR provisions in the context of tax treaties. Pricing provisions by the revenue
to safeguard its tax base against Moreover, with GAAR still being authorities has resulted in increased
impermissible taxpayer behaviour. at its nascent stage, there may be a litigation. In this scenario, the
However, uncertainty persists in number of challenges and issues that possibility of application of GAAR
relation to the operational scope of may arise on account of different provisions to augment revenue
these provisions, their interaction interpretations of the provisions. collection cannot be ruled out, and
any indiscriminate application of
the provisions is likely to result in
increased litigation and adversely
affect investors’ sentiments.

In the backdrop of the Government’s

policy to ease their doing business in
India, investors look forward to tax
certainty and facilitated resolution of
disputes. This could be a challenge
with the introduction of GAAR.
Based on the experience of other
countries in implementing GAAR, it is
clear that it is the most complex and
controversial tax legislation for all
stakeholders. Its operation requires
entities to pay close attention to the
commercial purpose, substance and
documentation of transactions to
make a representation in a GAAR
proceeding.

Under GAAR, the onus lies on

the taxpayers to establish that
transactions are not undertaken with
the main objective of tax avoidance
but are backed by commercial and
economic substance. Therefore,
defence documentation that spells
out the commercial reasons for a
transaction is crucial in this scenario.
Taxpayers may however choose to
obtain tax certainty through
private rulings.

GAAR is set to play a significant role

in future enforcement of compliance.
Multinational companies seeking
to operate an effective global
tax governance regime should
appreciate and understand current
developments in this area and be
ready to address application of GAAR.

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To sum up

Drawing from past experience of increased litigation, resulting in tax jurisdictional High Court in the event
aggressive application of SAAR uncertainty. Such litigation may be in of violation of natural justice (if there
by the Revenue authorities, the the form of proceedings filed before was an inadequate opportunity of
implementation of GAAR is the Approving Panel or Tribunal in being heard) or misapplication of law.
expected to lead to significantly the form of a writ petition before the

GAAR Decoded 19
How we can help you

We can advise you on the applicability and preparation of defence In addition, we can represent you
of GAAR on existing agreements or documentation (based on a business before the Revenue authorities,
arrangements, and guide you on its or commercial rationale) in your Approving Panel, AAR or Tribunals.
applicability for proposed transactions existing or proposed arrangements.

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Notes

GAAR Decoded 21
Notes

22 PwC
About PwC
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GAAR Decoded 23
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