Which of the following statements is/are correct ? Tax expenditure is

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?
Tax expenditure is the revenue foregone by the Government due to

  • 1. exemptions under corporation tax.
  • 2. deductions allowed on account of accelerated depreciations.
  • 3. deductions on export profits earned by the SEZ units.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2017
The correct answer is D. All three statements describe revenue foregone by the government due to specific tax provisions, which constitutes tax expenditure.
Tax expenditure refers to deviations from the normal tax structure that provide preferential treatment to certain activities or groups. These deviations result in a reduction of government revenue that would otherwise be collected.
1. Exemptions under corporation tax reduce the amount of corporate income subject to tax, thus lowering the tax collected. This is a form of tax expenditure.
2. Accelerated depreciation allows businesses to deduct the cost of assets faster than their actual wear and tear, reducing taxable income in the earlier years and deferring tax liability. This is considered a tax expenditure as it provides a benefit compared to normal depreciation rules.
3. Deductions or exemptions on export profits earned by Special Economic Zones (SEZ) units are specific tax incentives aimed at promoting exports and economic activity in SEZs. These provisions reduce the tax burden on these entities, representing foregone revenue.
Governments often publish a ‘Statement of Revenue Foregone’ or ‘Tax Expenditure Budget’ in their annual financial statements, detailing these types of tax concessions to show their impact on the budget.
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