How To Incorporate AIF In GIFT City- IFSC?

Table Of Contents

What is IFSC?
What is the framework of AIF in IFSC?
What are the minimum requirements for AIF?
What is the process flow for registering an AIF in IFSC?
What are the benefits for AIFs registered in GIFT City- IFSC?
How can InCorp help?
Frequently Asked Questions

What is IFSC?

• An IFSC is a special jurisdiction where global financial service providers offer financial services/products in foreign currencies to worldwide customers. 
• An IFSC’s role in India is to carry out financial services transactions that are currently carried out outside of India by foreign financial institutions and Indian financial institutions’ overseas branches / subsidiaries.
• In light of the AIF regime’s success in the domestic market, and in order to encourage the fund regime in the IFSC. Various government guidelines were released in 2015 to help enable and regulate the securities market in India’s first IFSC, GIFT City. These principles established the foundation for AIFs, including permissible investors, permissible investments, and so on.
• AIFs can be set up as a trust, corporation, limited liability partnership, or body corporate.

What Are The Benefits For AIFs Registered in GIFT City- IFSC?

The AIFs registered under GIFT city were provided with various benefits as compared to general AIFs registered elsewhere. Few benefits are listed below:

Investment Opportunities

The investment flow of AIFs is as follows:

AIF incorporated in GIFT City IFSC is permitted to invest in following securities:

• Securities Listed in GIFT City- IFSC
• Securities issued by Companies incorporated in GIFT City – IFSC
• Securities issued by Companies incorporated in India or foreign jurisdiction
• Units of other AIFs
• Other permissible investments as per AIF Regulations (like LLP, REIT, InvIT, Derivatives, SPV etc.)
• Overseas entities (without adhering to restriction applicable for domestic AIFs)

AIF registered in GIFT City IFSC can invest in India through the following modes: 

• Foreign venture capital investment (“FVCI”) route 
• Foreign portfolio investor (“FPI”) route
• Foreign direct investment (“FDI”) route.

Taxation Benefits

• AIF – Category I and II
  • Business income 10 years out of first 15 years tax holiday u/s 80LA of Income Tax Act, 1961. However, for AIF’s registered elsewhere in India, business income is taxable since no specific exemption is provided.
  • Other income like capital gains, Income from other sources are exempt for AIF irrespective of their registration location. However, the same is taxable in the hands of investors.
• AIF – Category III
  • Any income earned by AIF III except capital gains is taxable in the hands of AIF. Therefore, no income is taxable for the investors as AIF III has not received pass through status yet as compared to AIF I and AIF II. However, there is no clarity on taxability of dividend income.

• Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT)/ Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) is applicable at 9% of book profits. However, the same is applicable only to companies opting for the old tax regime.
• Exemption from STT, CTT, stamp duty in respect of transactions carried out on IFSC exchanges by registered AIFs.
• Supply of services by the Manager to AIFs registered in IFSC is exempt from GST.
• Income accruing to or received by non-resident investors from offshore investments made by a GIFT City AIF would not be taxable in India.

Operational Benefits

Apart from the above tax and compliance benefits, AIFs registered in IFSC have some operational benefits too which are as under:

• Lower operating costs due to subsidies granted by the Gujarat Government,
• Availability of skilled labor,
• Proximity to the onshore market,
• World class infrastructure, unparalleled connectivity and transportation access,
• Access to multiple markets from IFSC.

How can Incorp help?

Our Advisory and Taxation Team at Incorp offers seamless assistance in incorporation of entity in Gift City with related compliance and advisory services. We shall evaluate and assist in analyzing GIFT City related operational, commercial, taxation benefits, ensuring smooth setting up and assistance in regular compliance with all applicable rules and regulations in Gift City.

FAQs