Bachchans ordered to pay tax for Versa

NEW DELHI: Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek have been asked by a tax tribunal to pay tax on the Versa car given to them by carmaker Maruti Udyog Ltd as part of their professional fees for endorsing the brand.

The case dates back to 2000, when the father and son duo entered into an agreement with the auto major for its multi-utility vehicle Versa. According to the agreement, both the actors were to get Rs 4.02 crore and a Versa as professional fees. The car was delivered in 2001.

However, the Bachchans did not mention the receipt of the car to tax authorities in the income tax returns filed for the financial year 2001-02.

Later, during audit, tax officials found that the car was not shown as part of their income in 2002-03 also.

The department valued the car at Rs 6.34 lakh on the basis of its insurance certificates and directed them to pay tax by adding it as part of their professional income.

The IT department could not, however, establish the time when the car had been actually received, so it added its value to the income of the year 2001-02.

Bachchan had challenged the contention in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, saying that a car is said to be received only on the date of registration and if the registration is not done the person is not deemed to be the owner.

However, the tribunal rejected the appeal and held the department was right in its calculation as the actor himself had not provided information about the delivery of the car.

"The Assessing Officer is perfectly justified in bringing the same (Versa) to tax as his professional income in the year in question as the assessee (Amitabh Bachchan) has not acknowledged the receipt towards rendering services as per the agreement," the tribunal said.

"In the absence of contrary evidence brought on record by the assessee, the Department is justified in bringing the same as part of professional income of the assessee in the year in question," the tribunal observed.