What are infrastructure investment trusts? How are they taxed?

Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) are trusts funded by infrastructure companies that own, run, and participate in both finished and ongoing infrastructure spending. By investing in infrastructure projects through invITs, investors can participate in the revenue earned by these initiatives. Taxes on invITs are identical to those on equity funds. Income tax is owed on all income generated by. This tax is often charged at the rate that applies to the investor, which is typically 30% for businesses and 10% for individuals.

Are InvITs taxed

Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs)

Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) are a type of infrastructure financing vehicle that was established in India in 2016. The purpose of InvITs is to provide long-term capital for the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure projects in the country. They are a form of collective investment scheme and are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). InvITs are structured as trusts, which are managed by a professional trustee. The trustee is responsible for managing the assets held by the trust and collecting income from the underlying infrastructure investments. The trust also receives funds from investors, who provide both long-term capital and short-term liquidity. The trust then uses these funds to invest in infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, airports, and power plants.

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InvITs are beneficial to both the infrastructure sector and investors. They provide the necessary capital to develop and operate infrastructure projects while also providing investors with an opportunity to earn attractive returns on their investments. InvITs also offer investors the ability to diversify their investments, as they can invest in different types of infrastructure projects. This provides investors with a higher degree of risk management.

InvITs are also beneficial to the economy as they provide the capital needed to develop and maintain infrastructure projects. This helps to create jobs, boost economic growth, and provide a reliable source of energy and transportation.

Returns generated by InvITs

InvITs in India can generate returns in a variety of ways, including:

  • Distributions from their underlying assets: InvITs in India are allowed to distribute up to 90% of their distributable cash flows to unit holders. These distributions can be made quarterly or annually. 
  • Capital appreciation of units: InvITs can appreciate in value as underlying assets appreciate. 
  • Interest income: InvITs can earn interest income on their debt investments.
  • Tax benefits: InvITs can provide tax benefits to investors in the form of lower tax rates on income earned from distributions.

How are InvITs taxed?

InvITs are subject to taxes in a similar manner to mutual funds. All income earned by the InvIT, such as dividends, rent, and capital gains, is subject to income tax. This tax is usually paid at the rate applicable to the investor, such as a 10% rate for individuals and a 30% rate for corporations. IvnITs  must pay capital gains taxes in addition to income taxes when selling their investments. Investments owned for more than one year are taxed as long-term earned income, whereas earnings on the sale of assets kept for far less than one year are taxed as short-term investment income. Long-term profits are taxable at a rate of 10% when sold after three years, as per LTCG taxation. whereas short-term gains are charged at the investor's individual income tax rate. In contrast to earnings and capital gains taxes, InvITs are liable for stamp duty on the transmission of underlying investments. Regardless of whether the assets being purchased or sold are posted or hidden, a stamp duty is applied. The stamp duty is typically 0.1% of the security's amount.

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Final words

InvITs are organizations that oversee income-producing infrastructure investments. They generally provide investors with a constant return as well as a liquid method for funding infrastructure improvements. InvITs are subject to income tax, capital gains tax, and stamp duty. These taxes are generally the same as those applicable to other investments, such as mutual funds and stocks. Investors should be aware of these taxes and factor them into their investment decisions.

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