A Press note released on Tuesday from the office of Secretary cum Commissioner of Commercial Taxes carries a decision to abolish luxury taxes from dharmshala.
Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FJCCI) had requested the commercial department to lift luxury taxes imposed on dharamshalas, imambaras, gurudwaras and other such organisations. The federation argued that these places do charity works and don’t run for commercial purposes hence luxury taxes should not be imposed on them.
“Imposing luxury taxes or taxes of any other nature is irrational and the same should be abolished with retrospective effect,” FJCCI wrote in a letter addressed to the Commercial Taxes Department. The federation also requested to constitute a State level Advisory Committee to suggest different viewpoints to the departments. Replying to this request the department assured that it would constitute the committee within 15 days. The federation requested to bring the VAT at par with other Staes and bring it to 4-5 percent.
Federation requested the department to simplify the (departmental) assessment of files (of businessmen establishments). “like income taxes department the commercial taxes department should also conduct audits of 5 - 10 percent complicated files and that too with prior information to the concerned businessmen,” the federation requested. The federation also wanted the department to stop carrying surprise inspection. Replying to the request the department said that it was working to make the entire system online and then the inspection process would also become online that would save times of both businessmen and the officers involved in audits. It also requested the department to abolish professional taxes imposed on businessmen who are already paying VAT and requested the department to establish computerised check posts at inter-state borders. The department, in reply said that it was working to simplify the process.