Govt mulling tax rebate on film shoots
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, NOV 24
In future, it will pay for the filmmaker to shoot in Goa with the State government toying up with the proposal of giving them tax rebate.
“We are trying to promote film shoots in Goa. Tax reimbursement scheme for the filmmakers shooting in the State is being worked out, where half of the tax amount would be reimbursed to the filmmaker after he produces the bills and film is ready,” Manoj Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), announced during a day-long seminar.
Srivastava said that the State is in the process of forming the scheme which will be a major pull for the filmmakers to shoot in Goa.
CEO was talking at the seminar on ‘India-The Big Picture’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the sidelines of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2010.
Srivastava feels that the tax is going to be the biggest issue for the filmmakers in next three to four years. He said that the tax reimbursement scheme would be a success if Central taxes are relaxed at some level.
“I am echoing sentiments of Yash Chopra. The filmmakers would be largely benefited if Central taxes are relaxed,” Srivastava said.
Chopra during the inaugural of IFFI had said that the Central government had failed to support the film industry.
Srivastava said that it’s the duty of each State government to approach the Central ministry demanding to relax the Central taxes on films.
In-order to secure film industry, experts feel that the Central government need to form a special film body under the guidelines of eminent filmmakers, who have a proper knowledge of the film industry.
“Rather than appointing a government official on the committee, it needs to be headed by a person belonging to the world of cinema,” Srivastava said.
He was rightly supported by KAS movie makers Kalyan Mukherjee and other experts present for the workshop.
“Officials from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, who are seating on top and has no knowledge of what is a film, need to be educated on what is a camera, a film, an actor and so on,” Mukherjee stated.
Earlier, giving the inaugural remarks, CII’s Goa State council chairman Naveen Kapoor said that the film industry should be made aware about the new shooting locations.
He also said that though Indian film industry has captive audience, there is a need for new market penetrations.
