Tax raids may spoil Christmas eve

Hyderabad: If you have special plans for Christmas and New Year, then just buying a ticket for an attractive event in the city or at a farmhouse on the outskirts will not do.

There is also a need to cross-check whether the organisers have taken essential permissions and paid the necessary entertainment tax, or raids by task forces of the commercial tax department can play a spoil sport in the occasion.

“Any event of amusement and recreation attracts entertainment tax. The event organisers need to register with the commercial tax department and pay 20 per cent of the total tickets sold.

Even complementary tickets given by the organisers will be taxed,” said B. Revathi Rohini, joint commissioner of commercial tax department.

“Besides resorts, pubs, hotels and other places, we are also focusing on farmhouses on the outskirts. We have identified over 50 places so far where possible events would take place and in the coming days, few more will be added,” added an official of commercial tax department.

Anil Kumar, Comm-issioner, commercial tax department, said, “In the past several event organisers have evaded the mandatory taxes but this time the department would act tough.”