Many in film industry have evaded professional tax: CAG

A large number of persons involved in producing Kannada films in the last five years, including artistes, have evaded professional tax, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

A CAG report on the Economic and Revenue Sector Audit for the year ended 2015-16 tabled in the Legislative Council, has revealed that only 76 of the total 1,600 persons who were liable to pay professional tax (PT) have registered under PT. These persons have worked in producing 667 movies during 2011-15. Many of them were also artistes, the report added.

Besides, the national auditor has found that 19,259 companies and 60,480 individuals engaged in various professions under the service sector were not registered under PT.

The government has incurred an estimated loss of Rs 99.67 crore due to this. Similarly, around 2.75 lakh persons who own transport vehicles have not enrolled under the Commercial Taxes department, the report said.

According to the CAG, the government has incurred revenue loss of Rs 1,220 crore due to under assessment and short levy of various taxes. The Stamps and Registration department has failed to collect Rs 244.30 crore stamp duty on the auction of C category mining leases, the CAG report added.
DH News Service