IT surveys TV companies

IT surveys TV companies
ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU

MUMBAI, OCT 9: The Income Tax authorities have searched the offices of television companies Star TV, Zee TV and Sony TV. Sources said during the week-end, the income tax officials visited the offices of all the three TV companies ``to look into their books.''

Though the TV company officials deny a survey by any tax authorities, sources say all the three companies are under income-tax microscope due to non-filing of TDS documents and advance tax papers.

``Some IT officials have visited our offices but they could not find anything incriminating,'' said a Zee official. On the other hand, Star TV officials say the survey was carried out on Friday and Saturday ``but the IT officials went back without anything,'' said a Star TV insider.

The success of Star TV's Kaun banega Crorepati has fueled the IT survey as the TV company is disputing the IT's claim that TDS will not be cut by the TV company itself and left the tax papers burden on each winners.

Similarly, Zee's Inaam Dus Hazzar is under IT scrutiny and the tax officials visit was to warn them about any tax irregularity, officials add.

All the three TV companies are making huge profits in the recent years riding on satellite TV boom. The tax returns, however, does not reflect this, say IT officials. ``Hence, the surveys,'' they added.