International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) – Section 2(61) | Income-tax Act, 2025 vs 1961

§ 2(61) · Income-tax Act, 2025

International Financial Services Centre

ITA 2025 · 2(61) ≈ S.80LA Expl.(a) · 1961 Act
Definition — Section 2(61)

Has the same meaning as assigned to it in section 2(q) of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. Accordingly, an International Financial Services Centre means a centre which has been approved by the Central Government under section 18(1) of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 for setting up in a Special Economic Zone. Only one IFSC can be approved per Special Economic Zone. Units in an IFSC operate under requirements and terms prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and other concerned authorities. GIFT City in Gujarat is currently India's only operational IFSC.

Act Comparison
Income-tax Act, 2025
2(61)
International Financial Services Centre
Income-tax Act, 1961
S.80LA Expl.(a)
International Financial Services Centre — defined via SEZ Act reference in Explanation to S.80LA
Key Points
  • Existed in the 1961 Act via Explanation to Section 80LA(a) — the 2025 Act elevates it to a standalone Section 2 definition; both Acts cross-refer to Section 2(q) of the SEZ Act, 2005
  • Units in IFSC get special tax incentives — 100% tax deduction for any 10 consecutive years out of 15 years
  • Relevant for IFSC-based funds, banking units, insurance entities and aircraft/ship leasing units
💡 Practical Note

GIFT City's IFSC units enjoy among the most competitive tax rates globally — 10-year holiday, concessional MAT, and exemptions on financial services income.

Published by Simplified Tax India — Clear, section-wise comparison of Income-tax Acts. ← Back to Section 2 Definitions Table
🧾 SimpliInvoice
Create GST invoices, Bill of Supply and non-GST invoices instantly with our free browser-based invoice generator.
Open Free GST Invoice Tool
Home | About | Explore All | Welcome | Contact | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Demystifying Section 194LBA: A Guide for REIT & InvIT Investors

Demystifying Section 194LBA Income in AIS/26AS A simplified guide for reporting Business Trust income in your ITR If you’ve invested in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) or InvITs (Infrastructure Investment Trusts), you might have noticed “Income from Business Trust – TDS u/s 194LBA” in your AIS or Form 26AS. For many retail investors, this becomes confusing because the statement doesn’t explain whether the amount is a dividend, interest, or rental income. Without knowing the nature, it’s difficult to show it in the right place in your ITR. This article will simplify the process and help you file your taxes correctly. 1. What is Section 194LBA? Section 194LBA requires Business Trusts (like REITs/InvITs) to deduct tax at source (TDS) before distributing income to their unit holders. The tax treatment of the income depends entirely on its nature. Dividend from SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle): ...
Read more

Fix: Utilty says JSON Generated but no file in folder in ITR Excel Offline Utility

Fix: Utilty says JSON Generated but no file in folder in ITR Excel Offline Utility Many taxpayers have faced a frustrating issue while filing their Income Tax Return (ITR) using the Excel Offline Utility: The utility shows “JSON generated successfully” but no JSON file actually appears on the system. This issue is especially important for those filing ITR-U (Updated Return) since the Java Utility does not support ITR-U — you must use the Excel-based utility. Why Does This Error Happen? The Excel Offline Utility depends on certain Windows system components (.NET Framework). If they are disabled or missing, the utility cannot generate JSON files, even though it appears to run correctly. Step-by-Step Solution Follow these steps to resolve the error: 1. Open Windows Features Press Windows Key and search for “Turn Windows features on or off”. A new settings window will open. 2. Enable Required Options Tick the checkbox for .NET Framework 3.5 (includes NET 2.0 an...
Read more

ITR Forms for Lottery & Gaming Income

Can You File ITR-1 or ITR-4 with Lottery or Online Gaming Income? The simple answer is NO . Read further to understand why. Why Winnings from Gaming & Lotteries Require Specific Forms 1. Nature of Lottery / Gaming / Horse Race Winnings Income from: Lotteries, Crossword puzzles, Horse races Card games (like Junglee Rummy) Fantasy sports apps (Dream11, MPL, etc.) Any betting or gambling is taxed under Section 115BB of the Income Tax Act. Flat 30% tax rate (plus cess and surcharge) No deductions allowed (except TDS credit u/s 194B/194BB) This income is always reported under “Income from Other Sources”, never as Business Income . 2. Which ITR Forms Allow Such Income? ...
Read more