The Income-Tax Act, 1961

C.-Procedure for option of tonnage tax scheme

115VP. Method and time of opting for tonnage tax scheme.-

(1) A qualifying company may opt for the tonnage tax scheme by making an application to the Joint Commissioner having jurisdiction over the company in the form and manner as may be prescribed, for such scheme.

(2) The application under sub-section (1) may be made by any existing qualifying company at any time after the 30th day of September, 2004 but before the 1st day of January, 2005 (hereafter referred to as the "initial period"):

Provided that-

(i) a company incorporated after the initial period; or

(ii) a qualifying company incorporated before the initial period but which becomes a qualifying company for the first time after the initial period, may make an application within three months of the date of its incorporation or the date on which it became a qualifying company, as the case may be.

(3) On receipt of an application for option for tonnage tax scheme under sub-section (1), the Joint Commissioner may call for such information or documents from the company as he thinks necessary in order to satisfy himself about the eligibility of the company and after satisfying himself about such eligibility of the company to make such option for tonnage tax scheme, he-

(i) shall pass an order in writing approving the option for tonnage tax scheme; or

(ii) shall, if he is not so satisfied, pass an order in writing refusing to approve the option for tonnage tax scheme, and a copy of such order shall be sent to the applicant:

Provided that no order under clause (ii) shall be passed unless the applicant has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(4) Every order granting or refusing the approval of the option for tonnage tax scheme under clause (i) or clause (ii), as the case may be, of sub-section (3) shall be passed before the expiry of one month from the end of the month in which the application was received under sub-section (1).

(5) Where an order granting approval is passed under sub-section (3), the provisions of this Chapter shall apply from the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the option for tonnage tax scheme is exercised.

115VQ. Period for which tonnage tax option to remain in force.-

(1) An option for tonnage tax scheme, after it has been approved under sub-section (3) of section 115VP, shall remain in force for a period of ten years from the date on which such option has been exercised and shall be taken into account from the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which such option is exercised.

(2) An option for tonnage tax scheme shall cease to have effect from the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which-

(a) the qualifying company ceases to be a qualifying company;

(b) a default is made in complying with the provisions contained in section 115VT or section 115VU or section 115VV;

(c) the tonnage tax company is excluded from the tonnage tax scheme under section 115VZC;

(d) the qualifying company furnishes to the Assessing Officer, a declaration in writing to the effect that the provisions of this Chapter may not be made applicable to it, and the profits and gains of the company from the business of operating qualifying ships shall be computed in accordance with the other provisions of this Act.

115VR. Renewal of tonnage tax scheme.-

(1) An option for tonnage tax scheme approved under sub-section (3) of section 115VP may be renewed within one year from the end of the previous year in which the option ceases to have effect.

(2) The provisions of sections 115VP and 115VQ shall apply in relation to a renewal of the option for tonnage tax scheme in the same manner as they apply in relation to the approval of option for tonnage tax scheme.

115VS. Prohibition to opt for tonnage tax scheme in certain cases.-

A qualifying company, which, on its own, opts out of the tonnage tax scheme or makes a default in complying with the provisions of section 115VT or section 115VU or section 115VV or whose option has been excluded from tonnage tax scheme in pursuance of an order made under sub-section (1) of section 115VZC, shall not be eligible to opt for tonnage tax scheme for a period of ten years from the date of opting out or default or order, as the case may be.

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