GST Department issues notice to Padmanabhaswamy temple management to pay 1. 57 crore as tax arrears 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central GST Department issued a notice to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Management Committee to pay Rs 1.57 crore as tax arrears for the last seven years. The central GST department issued the notice rejecting the explanation given by the governing body of various exemptions in GST. The various incomes received by the temple in the form of rent--the income received from giving clothes to the devotees, money received from the sale of pictures, and the income received from the rent of ezhunallippu of elephants, the central GST department has found that the temple administration are not giving the GST of any of these.

Meantime, the temple executive officer responded to the media that an explanation will be given on the notice. The inspection was conducted at the Mathilakam office after a tip-off that the temple was not paying taxes. The GST department has found that the administration is receiving GST when providing services and products but not paying the money. The temple management said the temple has to pay only Rs 16 lakhs after various concessions. An amount of Rs 3 lakh was paid. However, after rejecting the reply given by the committee, the notice to pay the tax of Rs 1.57 crore was issued.

The notice also said that if the amount is not paid by the committee, 100 percent penalty and 18 percent penalty interest should be paid. The amount is a combination of 77 lakh GST share and 3 lakh flood cess due to central and state governments. The executive officer of the temple said a proper reply will be given to the notice.