« Top Headlines » Open DEMAT Account in 24 hrs  Section 80D Tax Deductions: Your guide to Smart Healthcare investment  How do I claim tax exemption under 54F?  ITR filing: How income from stock market is taxed explained  Income Tax notice: 6 high-value cash transactions that can get you flagged by I-T dept «  Delhi waives luxury tax for PBD delegates... I-T to tighten TDS norms for non-salaried... » Govt likely to extend tax incentives to STPI till '09 October, 11th 2006 Tax incentives under the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) may be extended beyond 09. We understand that STPI acts like an umbrella which is essential for the growth of IT SMEs. So we are taking it up for extension and a decision will be announced well before the industry expects, said MM Nambiar, additional secretary, ministry of communications and information technology during a visit to the city on Monday. The growth of revenues in the IT/ITeS has come significantly from the small start-ups. So we do support their interest. But, to gain acceptance from the other ministries the department has been working on details to justify the extension, says Mr Nambiar. The industry players since long have been demanding extension of the tax incentives under the STPI scheme beyond 09. The 10-year tax-holiday ends in 09. It is difficult to chalk out our future plans if the STPI incentives are not extended. We will have no option but to set up centres in SEZs, says Niraj Gemawat of Gateway TechnoLabs. While there is no clarity among the industry players, many of the small and medium units are already considering setting up centres in the upcoming special economic zones (SEZs).