« Top Headlines » Open DEMAT Account in 24 hrs   5 small savings options that save tax under Section 80C  ITR filing 2025: How often can Indian taxpayers switch between new and old income tax regimes?  Tax planning for 2025: How to maximise your savings before March 31 deadline  New income tax bill reaches Parliament: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tables I-T Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha  5 major changes in the last 6 months every taxpayer should know! «  I-T to tighten TDS norms for non-salaried... `Steel scrap eligible for ST deferral concession'... » Bharti Airtel served notice to pay Rs 24.2-cr VAT October, 11th 2006 The Department of Commercial Tax had issued a notice to Bharti Airtel demanding payment of Rs 24.18 crore by way of value added tax with penalty for 2005-06 saying broadband providers are liable to comply with the obligation. The notice was served in August. However, the telecom company had approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the demand notice. But it did not get a stay. When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Mr A.K. Chitaguppi, confirmed the serving of the notice and said a final picture would emerge only after the court gives its verdict. He said that he was not aware of similar demand notice being served on other telecom companies such as Reliance, BSNL, VSNL and Sify. According to Government sources, tax liability estimated at Rs 1,200 crore was due from the broadband providers, both in public and private sector. Taxable turnover They said supply of light energy, on which broadband lines operate, fell under the category of `goods' and its sale constituted taxable turnover attracting VAT at the rate of 12.5 per cent. Hence, the authorities slapped a notice to Bharti Airtel to pay the said amount, the tax authorities contended.