RSS Feed (xml)NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who starred in a recent Income-Tax Department advertisement to promote compliance, has lived up to his
Mr Kumar paid an advance tax of Rs 9 crore in March, 2010, taking his total advance tax payment in the current financial year to Rs 18 crore. He paid Rs 31 crore in 2008-09, a period that saw him delivering hits after hits.
“It feels good and privileged to be the highest tax payer. It is also a greater sense of responsibility, “Mr Kumar told ET over telephone from the sets of Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan, his latest project. Aamir Khan, with a tax payment of Rs 12 crore, stands next in the ladder with Shah Rukh Khan following him.
The 42-year-old Mr Kumar had a rough year with all his five releases falling short of the jackpot at the box-office. Warner Bros’ much hyped debut Chandni Chowk to China, Kambaqht Ishq, Blue and Percept’s Tasveer 8 x 19 and De Dana Dan all struggled at the cash counter.
These films were signed by the actor on the heels of four phenomenal hits of the previous year, ensuring him a big market price. Plus, his brands Thumbs Up was there as well as Levis, while he added LG and Dollar Vest as well. All of this collectively contributed to his earnings and thereby tax.
“Along with fulfilling my tax duties, I also feel the time has come for me to give back to society and the country at large. Which is why I am also using my brand status to do an ad for service tax. If I can get my message across to even half the people across, I feel it would be worth it,” Mr Kumar said.
Among the Bachchans, Abhishek paid an advance tax of Rs 4.15 crore in March, 2010, while his wife Aishwarya Rai paid Rs 2 crore. Father Amitabh Bachchan paid advance tax of Rs 2.9 crore in March, 2010, taking his total advance tax payment in the year to Rs 4 crore. Ranbir Kapoor is the new kid on the block to join the Bollywood’s top taxpayers’ club with an advance tax payment of Rs 2.1 crore in March, 2010.
Qurbaan star Saif Ali Khan made a payment of Rs 1.52 crore in March 2010 substantially lower than Rs 5 crore he paid in March, 2009. His lady love Kareena Kapoor paid an advance tax of Rs 1.45 crore in March 2010 taking the total to Rs 3.65 crore.
Salman Khan closely followed Saif with an advance tax payment of Rs 1.5 crore, but occupied the fourth position with a total tax payment of Rs 5.5 crore in the financial year. Advance tax is paid in four instalments in June, September, December and March and is based on taxpayers’ projected income in a particular financial year.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
