Mahesh Babu’s legal team has responded over the frozen bank accounts of the actor over tax dues. The Goods and Services Tax department earlier attached the bank accounts of Mahesh to recover service tax dues from him. The GST Commissionarate said Mahesh hasn’t paid the Service Tax during 2007-2008 for the taxable services he rendered as Brand Ambassador towards some brands for appearance money and advertising for promotion of products.
“The total tax due from him was Rs. 18.5 lakh. Today the GST department has attached his bank accounts in Axis Bank and ICICI Bank for an amount of Rs. 73.5 lakhs which includes tax, interest and penalty, the GST Commissionerate had said earlier.
Responding to it, Mahesh’s legal team issued a press statement. “The GST Commissionerate Hyderabad has attached the bank accounts for a disputed tax demand of Rs 18.5 lakhs claiming Rs 73.5 lakhs towards Tax interest and penalty for brand ambassador services rendered in FY 2007-08 which was not taxable service. The brand ambassador services was brought in the statute by insertion of section 65(105)(zzzzq) with effect from 1-7-2010. The GST Commissionerate Hyderabad has carried out the attachment without notice when several judicial pronouncements on this issue is in favour of the taxpayer and more so when the dispute is pending before the High Court. Mr. Mahesh Babu is a law abiding citizen complying with all fiscal legislations and has no undisputed tax payable.”