Govt to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds 2017-18 – Series I

The government of India on Thursday came out with Sovereign Gold Bonds 2017-18 – Series I. Applications for the bonds will be accepted from 24 April 2017 to 28 April 2017. The bonds will be issued on 12 May 2017.

The bonds will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices and recognised stock exchanges viz., National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange.

The bonds will be issued by the Reserve Bank India (RBI) on behalf of the Government of India. The tenor of the bond will be for a period of 8 years with exit option from the fifth year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.

The sale of bonds will be restricted to resident Indian entities, including individuals, HUFs, trusts, universities and charitable Institutions.

The bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram and the minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold.

The maximum amount subscribed by an entity will not be more than 500 grams per person per fiscal year (April-March). A self-declaration to this effect will be obtained.

In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 500 grams will apply.

The price of the bond will be fixed in Indian rupees on the basis of simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Limited for the week (Monday to Friday) preceding the subscription period. The issue price of the Gold Bonds will be Rs50 per gram less than the nominal value.

Payment for the bonds will be through cash payment (up to a maximum of Rs20,000) or demand draft or cheque or electronic banking.

The Gold Bonds will be issued as government of India stock under GS Act, 2006. The investors will be issued a holding certificate for the same. The bonds are eligible for conversion into demat form.

The redemption price will be in Indian rupees based on previous week's (Monday-Friday) simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity published by IBJA.

Bonds will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices as may be notified and recognised stock exchanges, viz, National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange, either directly or through agents.

Investors will be compensated at a fixed rate of 2.50 per cent per annum payable semi-annually on the nominal value.

These bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

Know-your-customer (KYC) norms will be the same as that for purchase of physical gold. KYC documents such as Voter ID, Aadhaar card / PAN or TAN / Passport will be required.

The interest on Gold Bonds will be taxable as per the provision of Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961). The capital gains tax arising on redemption of SGB to an individual has been exempted. Indexation benefits will be provided to long term capital gains arising to any person on transfer of bond

Bonds will be tradable on stock exchanges within a fortnight of the issuance on a date as notified by the RBI.

The Bonds will be eligible for Statutory Liquidity Ratio purposes of banks.

Commission for distribution of the bond will be paid at the rate of 1 per cent of the total subscription received by the receiving offices and receiving offices will share at least 50 per cent of the commission so received with the agents or sub agents for the business procured through them.