India’s onerous taxes are a buzz-kill for likes of Carson Block
Global funds returning to India’s stock market amid a world-beating rally are having to set aside one of the biggest gripes expressed by investors like Muddy Waters Capital LLC founder Carson Block — namely the country’s high taxes.
While global funds marked their first weekly purchase of local stocks last week, they have been big sellers this year. In addition to an uncertain economic outlook, they point to New Delhi’s tax code, which imposes high capital gains levies on overseas funds. That’s an approach at variance with other countries such as China, which are competing for their money.
Block has said that if India wants to attract foreign capital, it needs to change tack. Prashant Kothari, a senior investment manager with the emerging equities team at Pictet Asset Management, echoes that view.
“There’s always competition for global capital,” Kothari said. India’s taxes on capital gains change the calculus for investors, and lower rates would help shift the needle in favor of more investment, he added.
India has so far defied calls to reform the capital gains tax for global funds. The government wants to treat locals and foreigners equally, according to consultants. There’s little sign of that changing.
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A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry in New Delhi didn’t respond to Bloomberg’s request for a comment.
Overseas funds have pulled around $15 billion from India’s stock market this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. They have gone in the other direction in the country’s debt market,