Miscellaneous

The realty sector, which has been grappling with the collapse in demand and high debt, wants a hike in tax deduction on interest payment on home loans to Rs 2,50,000 a year, exemption of rentals on commercial properties from service tax and tax breaks for affordable housing projects.

A defensive sector, the healthcare industry has been growing at lower double digits.

The sector wants weighted deduction on research to be extended beyond 2010 and extend benefits on activities such as clinical trials and bio-equivalence studies done outside the research facility, reduction in excise duties of inputs (which are at 8 per cent even as formulations attract 4 per cent), extend tax holiday for hospitals in Tier 2 and 3 cities to 10 years, extend benefits under section 10A/10B to pharmaceutical exports beyond 2010-11 and finally, increase list of life saving drugs eligible of exemption from customs duty.

The textile industry, which has been impacted due to the slowdown in the US and Europe, is expecting measures that would help it stay profitable and competitive vis-a-vis countries like China.

They are hoping for a hike in duty drawback rate, cut in duties on machinery, increase in TUF allocation and interest rate subsidies among others.