
Can India rationalize land circle rates?
The real issue here is not desire to pay in cash but Triple Taxation in real estate purchase. Suppose a home buyer has INR 1 crore as earned money with him. Now it goes without saying that one must have paid 30% tax over this amount, if it is a bankable transaction. But for him Double and Triple Taxation in home purchase is 5% GST and 7% Stamp Duty. If there is a difference between Circle Rate and Fair Market Price, one would pay some amount, say INR 20 lakh in cash. Mind you! This is not Black Money but his Hard-Earned and Taxed Money but by paying INR 20 lakh as cash one is saving 5% GST and 7% Stamp Duty. So, a cash transaction of INR 20 lakhs saves him INR 2.40 lakhs. That is the whole game why everyone loves cash in the business of real estate.