തിരുവനന്തപുരം∙ Sports Minister V. Abdurrahman. The minister replied that taxes cannot be reduced and starving people should not watch the game. Last time the fee was reduced but the ticket price did not go down. The minister said the fee was not reduced so organizers would not take excessive profits.
The government has increased the entertainment tax which is levied on top of the GST. The government raised the entertainment tax this time to 12% from 5% during last September’s India-South Africa match. With this, you have to pay Rs 120 for a Rs 1000 ticket and Rs 260 for a Rs 2000 ticket in entertainment fee only. This is in addition to the 18% GST. Including this, the total tax rises to 30%. No matter how much the government raises the fee, the Kerala Cricket Association, which organizes the game, has no losses. They establish the fare of the ticket excluding taxes. Any tax exceeding that will be the responsibility of the ticket purchasers.
KCA reduced the ticket price from Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,750 to Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 for the Twenty20 match held in September. The company levied a 24% entertainment tax. But considering the various advantages of international competition, the government allows for a relaxation in this.
English summary: Karyavattom ODI entertainment tax increase, Minister V Abdurahiman on tax deduction
