India’s equalisation levy: Will it ignite a new trade war?

印度的平衡税：会引发一场新的贸易战吗?

MUMBAI: Digital services taxes (DSTs) adopted by India, Italy and Turkey discriminate against US companies, are inconsistent with the currently prevailing principles of international tax and burden or restrict US companies.

孟买：印度、意大利和土耳其的数字服务税(DSTs)歧视美国公司，与当前国际税收的普遍原则不一致，加重了美国公司的负担。

These are the findings of the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) that were recently made public, pursuant to an investigation carried out under section 301 of The Trade Act, 1974.

美国贸易代表办公室(USTR)根据《1974年美国贸易法》第301条进行了调查，最近公布了上述调查结果。

In particular, USTR’s report points out that: “India’s DST is an outlier. It taxes numerous categories of digital services that are not leviable under other DSTs adopted around the world. This brings more US companies within the scope of the DST, and makes the measure significantly more burdensome.”

美国贸易代表办公室的报告特别指出:“印度的数字服务税（DST ）是不合理的。印度对许多类别的数字服务征税，而根据世界各地采纳的数字服务税，这些服务是不可征税的。这使得更多的美国公司纳入了DST的范围，大大增加了它们的负担。”

USTR has also undertaken similar investigations with respect to the DSTs adopted or under consideration by Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, Indonesia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The reports relating to these countries are awaited.

美国贸易代表办公室还就奥地利、巴西、捷克共和国、欧盟、印度尼西亚、西班牙和英国通过或正在审议的DSTs进行了类似的调查。有关这些国家的报告尚未公布。

USTR, in its statement, adds that it is not taking any specific actions in connection with the findings at this time but will continue to evaluate all available options.

美国贸易代表办公室在声明中补充说，目前不会就调查结果采取行动，但将继续评估所有选择。

While, imposition of additional tariffs by the US on imports from India and other countries that have introduced DSTs cannot be ruled out sometime in the future, India will not be alone in this war.

虽然不能排除美国对从印度和其他采纳DSTs的国家的进口产品征收额外关税的可能性，但印度不会是唯一卷入这场战争的国家。

In financial year 2017-18, which followed its introduction, the collections under equalisation levy exceeded Rs 550 crore.

在2017-2018财年，也就是引入平衡税之后，征税额超过55亿卢比。

印度时报读者的评论：译者：Jessica.Wu

Next Nemo

How do you expect businesses yo grow with more and more taxation?

在税收越来越重的情况下，企业怎么发展?

Uday Panchpor

We should stick to our interest first, we have a huge market

我们是一个庞大市场，应该坚持维护自己的利益

Ramesh Pathak

This is no war against any economy! India must safeguard and foster its interests. Not a 'trade/tax war' as its made out to be!

这不是针对任何经济体的战争!

印度必须维护自身利益。这不是一场所谓的“贸易战/税收战”!

Critical Thinking

Apple, Microsoft, Google are all over or near market evaluation of 1 trillion dollars and more. Yet they don't want to pay any tax to countries they loot from, using their monopolistic practice

苹果、微软、谷歌的市场估值都超过或接近1万亿美元。他们利用垄断获得暴利，却不愿交税

Ramesh Sargam

Need such taxes to keep check on 'foreign invasion in Indian market"!!

需要征收这类税，阻止外企入侵印度市场!!

Godfather Senior

US MNCs have become another East India company in swindling. It is certainly the good measure by GOI to tax them for their digital business they do in India but never pay honestly the due taxes.

美国跨国公司成了另一个东印度公司。印度政府对他们在印度从事的数字业务征税无疑是一个好措施，但他们从来没有诚实地支付应纳税款。

N R

National interests first, every thing next.

国家利益第一，其他都靠后。

Sanni K. Sharma

Facebook, Twitter, Google and other IT giants earning millions and millions dollar from India and guess what Indian government is getting just penny dear. Put 30% tax to all US IT industries on whatever they getting from India.

Facebook、推特、谷歌和其他IT巨头从印度赚得盆满钵满，印度政府得到了什么?

对在印度运营的所有美国IT企业征收30%的税。

Critical Thinking

American IT and tech companies hire all the sharp minds around the world and monopolise their own business, suppressing local companies. They must be taxed heavily for this practice.

美国的IT和科技公司雇佣人才，垄断业务，压制当地公司，必须对他们课以重税。

Manoj Sahoo

Cross border digital transactions need to be taxed ..There are a lot of loopholes...India should see it's interest ..Forget USA.

要对跨境数字交易征税。有很多漏洞……印度应该维护自己的利益，别管美国。

Proud Indian

India has right to tax in India, the companies which do not want to follow the tax regime should get lost

印度有权在国内征税，不愿遵循税收制度的公司就退出印度市场

Narendra Mertia

US govt. can not ask India to reduce or remove such tax. However, they can impose a new tax in US which can effect Indian trade/business adversely.

美国政府不能要求印度降低或取消此类税收。可以在美国征收新税，这会对印度的贸易/商业产生不利影响。

Dilbag Rai

IIndia shoud have itsown way to impose equalization levy without the fear of trade war with the US.

印度应该以自己的方式来征收平衡税，不用担心与美国发生贸易战。

Spam

Modi wants to kill India and Indians.

莫迪想害死印度人。

Biranchi Narayan Acharya

India must see it's interest first.

印度必须坚持自身的利益优先。

Deepak

This is done to help Ambani and Adani to expand their business and put them in advantage. But as we know, Ambani and Adani are just copycat and low in quality.

这样做是为了帮助安巴尼和阿达尼扩大业务，使他们处于优势地位。但我们知道，安巴尼和阿达尼只会山寨，质量很差。

Nationcomesfirst

Every company should be taxed based on their income be it online business or brick & mortar .

每个公司都应该根据他们的收入纳税，无论是线上业务还是实体业务。