Look at the amount of Taxes that we are charged. At every stage of our
life and for everything we are taxed. For what ? and what is it that we are
getting in return.
The concept of levying Tax was mastered by the British and many of the
Tax laws & rules are still based on the legacy left behind the British,
actually the East India Company.
We are taxed by the Central Government, State Government and even the
Municipality.
According to Kautilya's Arthashastra - an ancient treatise on the study
of economics, the art of governance and foreign policy - artha has a much wide
r significance than wealth. An important part of the Arthashastra is the
`science of economics', which, inter alia, includes taxation, revenue
collections, budget and accounts.
A list of taxes and dues is found in this treatise, which describes the
duties of the chancellor and the officials responsible for revenue collection.
The treatise also shows that taxes were collected in kind (pratikara) - grains,
cattle, gold, forest p roduce, and so on.
Not only were such taxes in vogue, but even the principles behind them
were laid down. Manu, the great law giver of the country, in Manusmriti, has
described the policy behind taxes thus: ``As the leech, the calf, and the bee
take their food little by li ttle, even so must the King draw from his realm
moderate annual taxes.'' In Raghuvamsh, Kalidas, eulogizing King Dalip,
said...``it was only for the good of his subjects that he collected taxes from
them just as the sun draws moisture from the earth to g ive it back a thousand
time.''
The reason why Kautilya gave so much importance to public finance and
the taxation system in the Arthasastra is not far to seek. According to him,
the power of the government depended upon the strength of its treasury. He
states: ``From the treasury come s the power of the government, and the earth,
whose ornament is the treasury, is acquired by means of the treasury and army.''
However, he regarded revenue and taxes as the earning of the sovereign
for the services rendered by him to the people, affording them protection and
maintaining law and order. Kautilya emphasised that the King was only a trustee
of the land and his duty was to protect and make it more productive so that
land revenue could be collected as a principal source of income for the state.
According to him, tax was not a compulsory contribution to be made by
the subject to the state. But the relationship was based on dharma, and it was
the King's sacred duty to protect its citizens in view of the tax collected.
And if the King failed in hi s duty, the subjects had a right to stop paying
taxes, and even to demand refund of the taxes paid.
Its time that we arise and question the Government as to what do we get
in return to paying these taxes. For the governor to refurbish his house
& spend 14 lakhs to buy a TV or the MLA’s to go on foreign jaunts, to
protect (Z security) for corrupt Politicians and the list goes on………
Ans. : Business
Tax : PAY PROFESSIONAL TAX!
2) What r u doing in Business?
Ans. : Selling the Goods.
Tax : PAY SALES TAX!
3)
From where r u getting Goods?
Ans. : From other Area / State / Abroad.
Tax : PAY CENTRAL SALES TAX, CUSTOM DUTY & OCTROI AND NOW LBT &
LPT!
4) What r u getting in Selling Goods?
Ans. : Profit
Tax : PAY INCOME TAX!
5) How do you distribute profit ?
Ans. : By way of dividend
Tax : Pay DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION TAX!
6) Where r u Manufacturing the Goods?
Ans. : Factory
Tax : PAY EXCISE DUTY!
7) Do u have Office / Warehouse / Factory?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY MUNICIPAL & FIRE TAX!
8)
Do you have Staff?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY STAFFS PROFESSIONAL TAX!
9) Doing business in Millions?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY TURNOVER TAX!
Ans. : No
Tax : Then pay MINIMUM ALTERNATE TAX (MAT)
10) R u taking out over 25,000 Cash from Bank?
Ans. : Yes, for Salary
Tax : PAY CASH HANDLING TAX!
11) Where r u lodging your client?
Ans. : Hotel
Tax : PAY LUXURY TAX!
12)
R u going Out of Station for Business?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY FRINGE BENEFIT TAX!
13)
Hav u taken or given any Service/s?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY SERVICE TAX!
14) How come u got such a Big Amount?
Ans. : Gift on Birthday
Tax : PAY GIFT TAX!
15) Do u have any Wealth?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY WEALTH TAX!
16) To reduce tension, for entertainment, where are you going?
Ans. : Cinema or Resort
Tax : PAY ENTERTAINMENT TAX!
17) Hav u purchased House?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY STAMP DUTY & REGISTRATION FEE!
18)
How u Travel?
Ans: Bus
Tax : PAY SURCHARGE!
Ans. : By Car, Two wheeler
Tax : Then pay ROAD TAX.
Ans. : Yes. Of course, I want to travel in good roads & faster.
Tax : Then pay TOLL FEE.
21)
Any Additional Tax?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY EDUCATION CESS, SECONDARY & HIGHER EDUCATION CESS &
SURCHARGE ON ALL THE CENTRAL GOVT. TAXES !!!
22) Delayed any time Paying Any Tax?
Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY INTEREST & PENALTY!
23)
Do you want growth of India.?
Ans. : Of course, Yes
Tax : Then pay ELECTRICITY TAX, WATER TAX, ROAD TAX, ETC. ETC.
24)
Where to do you stay ?
Ans. : In my home.
Tax : Then pay PROPERTY TAX.
25)
The cities are congested & polluted. Do you want to breathe fresh air?
Ans. : Yes. Of course, I am feeling suffocated
Tax : Wait, we will introduce OXYGEN BARS, where you can breathe fresh
air by paying OXYGEN TAX.
26)
INDIAN : Can I die now?
Ans. : Oh no, you are to pay FUNERAL TAX!...OOps...its in the legislation waiting to be passed. Pl. wait....
Ridiculous. Because we are silent, dont protest and are a meek citizen
we are slapped these taxes.
Mind you no less than a former Prime Minister - Rajiv Gandhi said, that only about 15% of the money spent by the Government reaches the ultimate destination. Where does the 85% disappear - where else but fill the coffers of the political parties, politicians and the black money stashed away abroad.
Mind you no less than a former Prime Minister - Rajiv Gandhi said, that only about 15% of the money spent by the Government reaches the ultimate destination. Where does the 85% disappear - where else but fill the coffers of the political parties, politicians and the black money stashed away abroad.
In return what do we get. No education, No medical care, No housing
(even legally bought houses sanctioned by government authorities are
demolished), No proper roads, No 24x7 uninterrupted quality power, No water to
drink (depend on water tankers), No gaurantee of security, No cops to regulate
traffic (busy collecting fines & b....) and so on.
Anything left Mr. Jaitley.....Wonder is the Government here to serve or to rule.............. can you rise above politics and become the Kautilya of the 21st century.
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