20% TCS on international credit card spends: RBI’s solution is like cutting off head to cure headache, says tax expert
The move to impose a 20% tax collected at source (TCS) on credit card purchases for international transactions, and the inclusion of credit card transactions in tax categories will have an impact on ordinary consumers, not just the rich, says international tax expert TP Ostwal. He added that the significant annual amount spent on foreign travel makes the implementation of this tax burdensome and added a potential extra layer of compliance for banks and the financial sector. Ostwal suggested that any changes should focus on clarifications around existing rules and the imposition of a 5% tax on selected transactions.