Posted:
TV actors disappointed over service tax
TNN | Jul 4, 2012, 12.00AM ISTRead More:Karanvir Bohra|Gurmeet Chaudhary|Gaurav Khanna|Entertainment|Aishwarya Sakhuja
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Harshad Chopra
After the government's decision to levy 12.36% tax on actors, Tellywood is on another number crunching spree, which many admit is not half as palatable as TRP crunching. As the pep talk on TDS and service tax are doing emphatic rounds, leaving most members of the TV industry jot down on how much he/she should file as returns, a billion rupee question surfaces as to what difference will it make to the modus operandi in the telly industry.
While some feel, the process has become more convoluted, some feel it was an unwelcome move which could have been avoided. As a result of which there are talks that the TV actors are planning to go on a day long strike on July 5.
Gaurav Khanna | actor
It's a really bad move and has affected me like it would any Indian working professional. As an actor I am already paying professional tax. The television industry is already battling with so many bottlenecks. Actors get paid after 90 days and don't get monthly salaries like professionals.
Karanvir Bohra | actor
It's not fair. This tax shouldn't have been levied. There's got to be some reasons on why it is done now. At this rate, government might even levy tax on our breathing tomorrow. I've got full faith that producers and channel honchos will work on something which will be good for us actors.
Aishwarya Sakhuja | actor
This comes as a rude shock. I don't understand much about finance, but if this is just about re-rooting then it's too complicated and unneccesary. If we have to pay an extra 12.36% in taxes, then it is not done. I am not sure how many of us will get work on regular basis after this!
Arjun Bijlani | actor
I don't know what exactly this hue and cry is all about! Earlier the service tax used to be deducted at the source of income and was part of our salary, so we didn't have to pay anything extra from our pockets. I hope this works out similarly and there's no need to worry.
Karan Kundra | actor
This is ridiculous and sad. Mumbai is an expensive city to live in. On top of it, actors are paid 75-80 days after the show is telecast. Why have our politicians imposed these taxes on all actors? The 12.36 % tax should be levied only on actors who earn more than 12 lakh per month.
Harshad Chopra | actor
Until recently service tax was part of our pay and production houses deducted it from our cheques, so we weren't concerned. We have to remember that the consumer-buyer relationship is symbiotic and everyone is affected when there's a sudden hike in taxes.
Vivian D'sena | actor
If the government has put acting into the preview of service tax there must be a reason for it. In many other fields service tax used to be levied, the worrying part is what are the implications going to be for us. I am yet to understand the nitty gritties, let me figure this out.
Karan Tacker | actor
Any tax should be regulated in the budget, why has this tax suddenly been introduced in July? As actors we give 30% of our income in taxes anyway, why should we pay more? I think the production houses should take care of this matter so that we don't get affected.
Gurmeet Chaudhary | actor
Taxation has become so taxing for everyone. The common man is overburdened with it. First we had price hikes in essential commodities, and now comes service tax. As an honest citizen, we actors pay all our taxes. To burden us with more taxation is not correct.
Anas Rashid | actor
There's no escape from paying this tax, so it's fine with me. Although, I feel we actors are paying more tax now, so we should ask the industry to hike our wages. If the government earns so much from Entertainment industry, actors should get their due too.
Anoop Soni | actor
The producers were already charging actors. Now the procedure has become convoluted, I don't know why. Whatever information I have, says actors will get remuneration which includes the service tax. Now, out of that amount we are to pay these taxes. Earlier, 10% TDS used to get deducted by producers. Rest of the tax were paid by us directly. However, TV is not the only field where we get to do work. Suppose, if we get to work in films with independent producers, we would need to include the service tax charges, otherwise we would end up paying taxes from our pockets. Government is already charging 30% tax.
Manav Gohil | actor
I still have to figure out with my CA on how the logistics are going to work out for this 12.36% service tax levied. I don't think it will create much of a difference and ultimately, we have to pay tax to government in any case. So why create so much hue and cry about this? Let's be responsible citizens and pay up the tax. As it is, if I earn more, I have to pay more tax, it's as simple as that.
JD Majethia | actor-producer
All actors who earn above '10 lakh are paying 33% tax already and to add to it this service tax has been levied now. Somewhere, the government must understand that this profession has its share of risk and insecurity. There's nothing steady or certain in the TV industry. If I'm acting for three months, I might have to sit home for a year if I don't get any more projects. Also, as an actor, we are public figures and have to maintain a standard of living too. Imposing this tax on us is a bad idea.
Gorky | producer-director
You are required to pay tax in advance, which means you have to pay the money even before you get it from the client. It really squeezes your resources. If it doesn't come in time, then your liquidity is affected.
Hiten Tejwani | actor
I second everyone's opinion. As actors we are providing a service, so making us pay 12.36% service tax is very unfair. Not many actors work all the time, so if government is asking for taxes they should also provide the services. In the US and the UK, the government provide social security to out of work people, may be this system should be valid on out of workers too, if we are expected to pay these taxes. There are many actors who work for just a day in a month, how do you expect him to pay? This is ridiculous.
Siddharth P Malhotra | producer
Now actors will charge us more and we will charge the channel more. It is going to be a new cycle again, and negotiations will start. Everything had just settled in the industry, salaries had been corrected, budgets had been fixed and now again something new has come up. We can't do much so I guess we should just take this with a pinch of salt and move on. Everybody is so busy with their lives that no one has the time to do movements or strikes. Work will go on as usual.
Sudhir Sharma | producer
Service Tax is decided by the government. Until now actors were not supposed to pay service tax, but all that has changed. But as citizens we've got to abide by the government's decision and pay up the tax. Do we have a choice here?
Aman Verma | actor
It's absolutely ridiculous. We are already bombarded with entertainment tax, and with this new service tax levied we will have no entertainment left in our lives. It would be good if we knew what we are getting in return from the government, but obviously there is nothing good given back in terms of infrastructure, services and welfare. We are left with no option, but to entertain the government and pay this tax.
Rupali Ganguly | actor
I don't mind paying the service tax levied on us, but then I need to have retirement benefits too. If there is fire on the sets, who take care of us? All the money we pay up in taxes goes into the coffers of our corrupt polticians who never seem to be out of cash. I don't want to pay extra money to make them richer. After 10 years of this current government, we have nothing positive happening in our lives. We should demand a change in government. I am fed up of the taxation system and need to know where my money is going and only then will I pay.
Kinshuk Mahajan | actor
Whatever law is made should be put up intelligently. We are already paying 30% income tax and now another 12.36% service tax is going to be added to it. We will not able to have any savings. The television industry is one place where insecurities of the professional kind are very high. We have to be careful about our savings. If the government goes on taking away this much as tax, we are going to be left with zilch. They should consider these factors before they levy these taxes on us.
^
While some feel, the process has become more convoluted, some feel it was an unwelcome move which could have been avoided. As a result of which there are talks that the TV actors are planning to go on a day long strike on July 5.
Gaurav Khanna | actor
It's a really bad move and has affected me like it would any Indian working professional. As an actor I am already paying professional tax. The television industry is already battling with so many bottlenecks. Actors get paid after 90 days and don't get monthly salaries like professionals.
Karanvir Bohra | actor
It's not fair. This tax shouldn't have been levied. There's got to be some reasons on why it is done now. At this rate, government might even levy tax on our breathing tomorrow. I've got full faith that producers and channel honchos will work on something which will be good for us actors.
Aishwarya Sakhuja | actor
This comes as a rude shock. I don't understand much about finance, but if this is just about re-rooting then it's too complicated and unneccesary. If we have to pay an extra 12.36% in taxes, then it is not done. I am not sure how many of us will get work on regular basis after this!
Arjun Bijlani | actor
I don't know what exactly this hue and cry is all about! Earlier the service tax used to be deducted at the source of income and was part of our salary, so we didn't have to pay anything extra from our pockets. I hope this works out similarly and there's no need to worry.
Karan Kundra | actor
This is ridiculous and sad. Mumbai is an expensive city to live in. On top of it, actors are paid 75-80 days after the show is telecast. Why have our politicians imposed these taxes on all actors? The 12.36 % tax should be levied only on actors who earn more than 12 lakh per month.
Harshad Chopra | actor
Until recently service tax was part of our pay and production houses deducted it from our cheques, so we weren't concerned. We have to remember that the consumer-buyer relationship is symbiotic and everyone is affected when there's a sudden hike in taxes.
Vivian D'sena | actor
If the government has put acting into the preview of service tax there must be a reason for it. In many other fields service tax used to be levied, the worrying part is what are the implications going to be for us. I am yet to understand the nitty gritties, let me figure this out.
Karan Tacker | actor
Any tax should be regulated in the budget, why has this tax suddenly been introduced in July? As actors we give 30% of our income in taxes anyway, why should we pay more? I think the production houses should take care of this matter so that we don't get affected.
Gurmeet Chaudhary | actor
Taxation has become so taxing for everyone. The common man is overburdened with it. First we had price hikes in essential commodities, and now comes service tax. As an honest citizen, we actors pay all our taxes. To burden us with more taxation is not correct.
Anas Rashid | actor
There's no escape from paying this tax, so it's fine with me. Although, I feel we actors are paying more tax now, so we should ask the industry to hike our wages. If the government earns so much from Entertainment industry, actors should get their due too.
Anoop Soni | actor
The producers were already charging actors. Now the procedure has become convoluted, I don't know why. Whatever information I have, says actors will get remuneration which includes the service tax. Now, out of that amount we are to pay these taxes. Earlier, 10% TDS used to get deducted by producers. Rest of the tax were paid by us directly. However, TV is not the only field where we get to do work. Suppose, if we get to work in films with independent producers, we would need to include the service tax charges, otherwise we would end up paying taxes from our pockets. Government is already charging 30% tax.
Manav Gohil | actor
I still have to figure out with my CA on how the logistics are going to work out for this 12.36% service tax levied. I don't think it will create much of a difference and ultimately, we have to pay tax to government in any case. So why create so much hue and cry about this? Let's be responsible citizens and pay up the tax. As it is, if I earn more, I have to pay more tax, it's as simple as that.
JD Majethia | actor-producer
All actors who earn above '10 lakh are paying 33% tax already and to add to it this service tax has been levied now. Somewhere, the government must understand that this profession has its share of risk and insecurity. There's nothing steady or certain in the TV industry. If I'm acting for three months, I might have to sit home for a year if I don't get any more projects. Also, as an actor, we are public figures and have to maintain a standard of living too. Imposing this tax on us is a bad idea.
Gorky | producer-director
You are required to pay tax in advance, which means you have to pay the money even before you get it from the client. It really squeezes your resources. If it doesn't come in time, then your liquidity is affected.
Hiten Tejwani | actor
I second everyone's opinion. As actors we are providing a service, so making us pay 12.36% service tax is very unfair. Not many actors work all the time, so if government is asking for taxes they should also provide the services. In the US and the UK, the government provide social security to out of work people, may be this system should be valid on out of workers too, if we are expected to pay these taxes. There are many actors who work for just a day in a month, how do you expect him to pay? This is ridiculous.
Siddharth P Malhotra | producer
Now actors will charge us more and we will charge the channel more. It is going to be a new cycle again, and negotiations will start. Everything had just settled in the industry, salaries had been corrected, budgets had been fixed and now again something new has come up. We can't do much so I guess we should just take this with a pinch of salt and move on. Everybody is so busy with their lives that no one has the time to do movements or strikes. Work will go on as usual.
Sudhir Sharma | producer
Service Tax is decided by the government. Until now actors were not supposed to pay service tax, but all that has changed. But as citizens we've got to abide by the government's decision and pay up the tax. Do we have a choice here?
Aman Verma | actor
It's absolutely ridiculous. We are already bombarded with entertainment tax, and with this new service tax levied we will have no entertainment left in our lives. It would be good if we knew what we are getting in return from the government, but obviously there is nothing good given back in terms of infrastructure, services and welfare. We are left with no option, but to entertain the government and pay this tax.
Rupali Ganguly | actor
I don't mind paying the service tax levied on us, but then I need to have retirement benefits too. If there is fire on the sets, who take care of us? All the money we pay up in taxes goes into the coffers of our corrupt polticians who never seem to be out of cash. I don't want to pay extra money to make them richer. After 10 years of this current government, we have nothing positive happening in our lives. We should demand a change in government. I am fed up of the taxation system and need to know where my money is going and only then will I pay.
Kinshuk Mahajan | actor
Whatever law is made should be put up intelligently. We are already paying 30% income tax and now another 12.36% service tax is going to be added to it. We will not able to have any savings. The television industry is one place where insecurities of the professional kind are very high. We have to be careful about our savings. If the government goes on taking away this much as tax, we are going to be left with zilch. They should consider these factors before they levy these taxes on us.
^
thanks for sharing :)
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