Why do you deserve tax relief, SC asks Big B

Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan’s income tax troubles seem to have many lives, showing up again every time they appear to have died down.

Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan’s income tax troubles seem to have many lives, showing up again every time they appear to have died down.

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The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the superstar in connection with a tax exemption claim on his earnings from popular television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

The notice was issued by a bench headed by Justice S.S. Kapadia on a petition filed by the income tax department.
The department had moved the apex court challenging last year’s Bombay High Court order allowing tax exemption on 30 per cent of Bachchan’s total income of Rs 50.92 crore from the show.

Now, the Supreme Court has asked Bachchan to reply with his arguments for why he should be given the tax exemption. It put the matter for final hearing on October 28.

Bachchan had claimed the exemption under Section 80RR of the Income Tax Act that says an artist is entitled to a tax exemption on income earned from abroad.

The income tax department contented that Bachchan was an anchor and not an artist in the show; the entire show was shot in a city studio provided by Star India Private Limited; hence, no tax relief could be granted.

The issue was at first decided in the actor’s favour by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, after which the department appealed in the high court.

In March the department challenged the high court order in the Supreme Court.