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The income tax framework for Business Trusts (BTs) was first introduced in Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014.  Further amendments were undertaken in Finance Act, 2015 and Finance Act, 2016.  The key principle that underpinned this framework was to provide for a single level of taxation on income from the underlying assets – this tax was to be assessed on the asset owning SPV’s income; thereafter, such income when distributed by the SPV to the BTs and by the BTs to its unitholders, would not attract any further tax. 

Over the past 2 months, COVID 19 has progressed from a regional outbreak to a pandemic. This has created havoc not only in the day to day lives of people but also in terms of the business operations of all scales.  Real Estate industry which was already reeling under the slowdown pressures is now staring at a complete shutdown. Even big business houses which have the ability to sustain this, are now creating reserves for the rainy day, with no visibility of the end of this phase. The employment and livelihood of the real estate workers at every level have also been adversely impacted due to the sudden slowdown of real estate construction. 

Hong Kong Office Market Overview 
1. Rental declines accelerated; core areas the hardest hit 2. Demand in Q1 shrinks by most in 18 years; absorption to remain negative over the near-term 3. Availability climbed to 10-year high; to stay in double-digits in 2020 4. Weak leasing demand to continue; cost constraints to limit relocations 5. Core area rental decline to accelerate; Greater Central rents in 2020 to retreat the most since GFC

Indian real estate sector, which was already struggling to re-emerge from the past turbulence of structural changes, policy reforms, and the liquidity crisis, is now set to witness another major fallout. In usual times, the ongoing period normally sees an uptick in residential real estate activities owing to festivals like Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Akshaya Tritiya and Navaratri when new launches and housing sales spike up. Upcoming vacation time for Indian schools beginning April till June-end also gives time to homebuyers to make purchase decisions.