India arms of 1,000 MNCs asked to pay GST on expat salaries, allowances

Tax demands for 18% GST range from Rs 1 crore to Rs 150 crore

The Indian arms of around 1,000 multinational corporations (MNCs) have recently received tax demands from goods and services tax (GST) authorities. The demands raised sought an 18 per cent tax on salaries and allowances paid to foreign expatriates (expats) by their overseas parent companies.

The tax demands, which have been issued in the past few weeks, range from Rs 1 crore to Rs 150 crore for the period between FY18 and FY22. “Payments to expats working in Indian subsidiaries of multinationals by their foreign parent are liable for GST,” an official privy to the matter told Business Standard. 

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