Andhra journos get discover asking to pay skilled tax, unions urge govt to drop transfer

Many state-accredited journalists in Andhra Pradesh acquired a discover from the Business Taxes Division on January 18 stating that they’re liable to pay skilled tax of Rs 2,500 per 12 months. 

Venkateshwar Rao, a journalist who works for a Telugu day by day in Amalapuram space within the Dr Ambedkar Konaseema district acquired a discover saying that he’s liable to pay skilled tax of Rs 12,500 (for 5 years) beneath Part 10 of the Andhra Pradesh Tax on Professions, Merchants, Callings and Employment Act-1987 (APPTCE). The discover signed by a Deputy Business Tax Officer said that Venkateshwar Rao should pay the quantity inside 15 days of receiving it, or else motion will probably be taken.

Venkateshwar Rao instructed TNM that a number of different journalists too had acquired the notices. “We’ve got learnt {that a} listing has been ready by the Division to ship this discover. “The discover was despatched to these journalists who’ve been accredited by the state for 5 years and above.” 

Following the order, two journalist unions within the state, the Andhra Pradesh Union Of Working and Journalists (APUWJ) and Indian Journalist Union (IJU) met the Info and Public Relations Commissioner, T Vijaya Sai Reddy at his workplace on January 19. 

SN Meera, a journalist from Guntur and member of APUWJ instructed TNM that the Commissioner steered that whoever receives the discover can ship a letter to the Business Tax Commissioner stating that they don’t seem to be liable to pay skilled tax. “He instructed us that journalists within the state needn’t fear,”stated Meera.  

Meera stated the union was hopeful that following the assembly with Vijaya Sai Reddy, the federal government would stop the notices. “We hope that no different journalists obtain discover, but when this occurs, we’ll devise a plan of motion.”

Subba Rao, Business Tax Division Commissioner of Amalapuram stated that related notices had been despatched to twenty-eight journalists and the method will go on. “The notices will probably be despatched to others too. The method will not be beneath maintain. However we’ll see the response from the journalists, their objections after which proceed accordingly.” He added that he has not acquired any official directions concerning the stoppage of the notices. He was nonetheless conscious of the unions assembly the I&PR Commissioner. 

Senior journalists TNM spoke to identified that many journalists face job insecurity and are generally pressured to work totally free when their employers fail to pay excellent dues. “In such circumstances, the federal government is gathering cash within the title of tax. How can we not object?,” he requested.