PANAJI
'Professional Tax' a levy on professionals operating in the jurisdiction of local bodies -- civic bodies and panchayats -- could soon be a norm with the Goa State Finance Commission (GSFC) mulling such a move to shore up revenues for these constitutional local self-governing bodies.
The compelling situation for the GSFC to propose such a 'professional tax' is the soaring expenditure of these local bodies but no corresponding increase in their revenue sources.
Most of Goa's local bodies, including the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) but barring a few coastal panchayats, operate in the red and have to be financially hand-held by the State government through grants.
The proposal to levy ‘Professional Tax’ if it eventually materialises will affect professionals such as chartered accountants, lawyers, doctors, dentists, architects, engineers and several others who have offices or operate in the jurisdiction of these local bodies.
The GSFC is headed by retired IAS officer Daulat Hawaldar, who served as the State's finance secretary. This proposal for levying a professional tax was recently deliberated in a meeting between officials of the Commission and members of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) where the latter suggested that instead of new taxes the focus should be on widening the tax base.
