AGARTALA, September 1 (TIWN): Two new bills passed in the Assembly today. The Tripura Tax on Luxuries in Hotels and Lodging Houses (2nd Amendment) Bill and the Tripura Entertainment Tax (Amendment) Bill were passed in the State Legislative Assembly today. However Tripura Rickshaw Regulation Bill, 2014 (The Tripura Bill no.17 of 2014) could not been passed as the Assembly adjourned was adjourned for the day.

After the Question hour on the 2nd day of Tripura Legislative Assembly two new bills were introduced. In the Tripura Tax on Luxuries in Hotels and Lodging Houses (2nd Amendment) Government decided to increase the tax on luxurious hotels and lodging houses from 10% to1 5% in order to increase the revenue.

Government expects that by increasing tax it may generate additional tax revenue of Rs 50 lakhs (approx) annually. Entertainment tax was increased by15%. It will too increase the revenue to 50 lakhs annually. Entertainment tax is mainly collected from Cable TV Operators, Entertainment Park, Video shops and Cinematographic Exhibition. State Government has decided to include Direct to Home Services (DTH) as a means of entertainment.

The service providers have been paying VAT on different equipments in DTH services but recently some of them have changed their modes of business in order to avoid payment of VAT. Thus results in the loss of Governments revenue. In order to avoid such kinds of modes respective proposed scheme had
been introduced.

Admission to cinematographic exhibition including video shows will be increased to Rs 3 /- for AC Halls and Rs 2/- for Non Ac Halls. And in admission to all other entertainment areas where the price of the ticket excluding tax is less than Rs 3 /- is 25%, Less than Rs 20/- but more than equal to Rs 3 is 50% and more than or equal to Rs 20 is 100%.Tickets upto Rs 60/- in case of theoretical and other similar performances other than exhibitions and video shows organized by cultural groups is Nil and more than Rs 60 is 20%.

Whereas in Cable Television network 10% of the monthly subscription charge subjected to a minimum of Rs10/- per subscriber per month and DTH Services -10% on the value on activation/ connection/ recharge or any other charge collected by whatever name.