Taxmen look forward to a party on New Year’s Eve

Hotels, clubs, gymkhanas, banquets halls and housing societies selling tickets for New Year’s Eve parties might have to reconsider before trying to evade entertainment tax. The state revenue department (Konkan division) has chalked out a plan to crack down on tax offenders.

The entertainment department has formed 48 special flying squads equipped with video cameras to capture the exact number of partygoers at any venue. Penalties will be levied if the records are found to show fewer numbers, a common ploy used to avoid entertainment tax. There would be a double penalty amount and tax recovery from the offenders.

This year, an increasing number of party venues are being readied in Navi Mumbai, Thane, Mira-Bhayander, Kalyan-Dombivli, Vasai-Virar areas. South Mumbai residents, on the other hand, organise parties at terraces of the society or at home.

Santokh Singh Sandhu, divisional commissioner, Konkan, said: “We are keeping a strict vigil and will make watertight cases against those who show discrepancies in ticket sales.”

The three major collectorates in Konkan division which generate the highest entertainment tax during New Year’s Eve events include the island city, Mumbai suburban and Thane collectorates. 

Abhimanyu Kale, deputy commissioner, entertainment (Konkan division) says “There are eight flying squads deputed for the island city, 25 for the suburbs, and 15 squads for Thane district.”