Despite a much-improved experience, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) continued to grapple with a host of issues while filing income tax returns this year.


FPIs are required to maintain Form 10F and provide the same along with other documents when asked by the income tax officer to claim tax treaty benefits. This year, however, the CBDT issued a notification in mid-July, making it mandatory to file Form 10F electronically for tax payers claiming tax treaty benefits. A digital signature certificate (DSC) is required for furnishing Form 10F electronically, but non-corporate FPIs are typically not required to obtain a DSC.