the ten proposals

sadhuji

(this is in continuation to ‘Budging from a dull Budget’)

First – introduce a new Tax for film producers. Termed as the Location Tax, it is to be paid whenever they move out to foreign locations to shoot half of a reel of utter nonsense. This Tax should be 10% of first week’s gross earnings. Normally, films nowadays do not have any earning potential after the first week. This Tax will be waived if the Location is in India.

Second – introduce one more tax, the Music Tax for loud blaring music. Make it mandatory that the music is to be produced with not more than four instruments. 10% of gross earnings should be charged as tax in case the decibel level cross the threshold of decency. Also, advance release of music cassettes/videos of forthcoming films must be covered under this category.

Third – introduce a Clothing Tax on the apparel of dancers and artistes. If the exposed portion of the body is less than 30%, this Tax becomes chargeable. The amount payable as tax will depend upon the number of performers and the number of seconds’ duration.

Fourth – let us have a taxation system for all shopkeepers and vendors in the markets who are allotted stalls. Let the local municipal authorities or the borough in-charges or the sarpanches collect a fixed rate of two rupees or five rupees per day. Little drops of water, little grains of sand ……

Fifth – tax all Nursing Homes based on the number of beds and cabins it has. Collection of this tax also should come under the purview of the local administration. Here also, a fixed amount should be paid in line with what is outlined above. Records in a particular nursing home would be available with the authorities because the approval for start of such services has to be given by them. So – assessment of what is payable can be worked out quite unambiguously.

Sixth – tax all coaching and tutorial classes. It is not difficult to find out the number of students who come to each coaching class. A flat rate of five rupees per student per subject per day can be easily thought of for introduction.

Seventh – introduce an Offspring Tax for those with more than two children. 5% of assessed income to be paid as tax per child beyond two. The assessment of income is to be done separately by a group of ten neighbors who should forward their findings to an independent body in a sealed envelope via registered post.

Eighth – yet another Tax that can be considered for introduction. A Tax on food. This Food Tax will be applicable if a family relies on eating out on a regular basis. How can one keep a tab on this? Simple – this is to be vouched for by the maid who comes in to do the dishes. She will be empowered to maintain a roster of how many days in a month she discovers that there are no dishes to clean.

Ninth – instead of publishing an exception list once in a while of high profile characters tax evaders; let us have a newspaper Supplement – once a year – on the tax actually paid by all these persons. They can be grouped into – screen/TV personalities, sportspersons, politicians, businessmen, industrialists, administrative group including the police. This will be more meaningful to the commoner. A glance at such information will help them form an idea of the credibility of these persons and how honest they are. I am doubtful if there will be any sponsors for such noble activities – it has, therefore, to be charged to overheads by the newspapers.

Tenth – abolish Income Tax consultants. They do more harm than good. They keep their pockets well lined, they maintain their lifestyles fully oiled but they never declare their incomes and deprive the Government from its dues by advising assesses on how to escape from the IT net. The authorities lose out on both the counts!

Since I have already earned the reputation of posting ‘too lengthy blogs’, I leave it to fellow bloggers to add to the list.