Congress gets fresh I-T notice of over ₹1,745 crore; total tax demand rises to ₹3,567 crore

The main opposition party said on 29 March that it had received notices from the I-T department, asking it to pay around ₹1,823 crore.

ByPTI

Published Mar 31, 2024 | 2:04 PMUpdatedMar 31, 2024 | 2:05 PM

Congress leaders during the CWC meeting.

In mounting trouble for Congress, sources in the party said it has received fresh notices from the Income Tax (I-T) department, raising a tax demand of ₹1,745 crore for the assessment years 2014-15 to 2016-17.

With this latest notice, the I-T Department has raised a total demand of ₹3,567 crore from the Congress.

According to sources, the fresh tax notices relate to 2014-15 (₹663 crore), 2015-16 (around ₹664 crore) and 2016-17 (around ₹417 crore). The authorities have ended the tax exemption available to political parties and have taxed the party for the entire collections, they added.

The Congress has also been taxed for “third-party entries” made in diaries seized from some of its leaders by probe agencies during raids, the sources said.

Also Read: Congress says it received fresh I-T notices of over ₹1,800 crore

Notice for around ₹1,823 crore

The main Opposition party on Friday, 29 March, said that it has received notices from the I-T Department, asking it to pay around ₹1,823 crore. The tax authorities have already withdrawn ₹135 crore from the party’s accounts for a tax demand relating to previous years.

Congress has moved the court against the ₹135-crore tax demand and the case is likely to come up before the Supreme Court on Monday, 1 April. The party has failed to get any relief from the High Court of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in this regard.

Congress leaders have contended that similar third-party entries naming BJP leaders in other diaries have not been levied any tax. They have accused the BJP of indulging in “tax terrorism” and financially crippling the principal opposition party during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

By doing so, they are disturbing the level playing field during elections, the Congress has alleged. It has also complained to the Election Commission in this regard and urged it to maintain a level playing field.

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