« Top Headlines » Open DEMAT Account in 24 hrs  ITR filing deadline extension now demanded by this Tax Bar Association due to many issues including technical glitches with ITR portal  GST Rule Changes for FY 2025 26  Income tax return filing 2025: Five ITR mistakes that can trigger an income tax notice in 2025  ITR filing What is updated income tax return and ITR U Who can file & what you can t change - top points to know  Shifted to new tax regime? Here are 5 investments you shouldn't drop  Auditing and Assurance Standards Board Expert Panel for addressing queries related to Statutory Audit pertaining to auditing aspects. «  I-T Dept using search engines to find tax evaders:... FM hints at belt tightening... » ST dept checks books of hotels in Gujarat November, 14th 2006 The state commercial tax department has carried out an extensive inspection of ledger books of 950 eateries across Gujarat to check for evasion of value added tax (VAT).    The inspection was carried out at hotels and restaurants. M M Srivastav, commissioner of state commercial tax, said, The inspection was carried out for two days and, if needed, it would be extended.    About 545 officials from the commercial tax department were involved in the operation.    During the inspection, the bills were checked for any tax evasions resorted to by the owners.    The department checks the number of employees, electricity consumption and the interior decoration of each hotel to estimate the kind of income that can be generated from the business of an individual hotel.    The department has kept drop boxes at eateries for the customers to drop their bills to pick up lucky winners of the lottery scheme being conducted by the commercial tax department.    The aim of the lottery scheme is to encourage consumers to insist on bills so that shop owners are compelled to pay VAT.    Speaking to Business Standard, Bhupendra Khakhar, president of Rajkot Hotelier Association, said, "The inspection was conducted to ensure that hoteliers were adhering to VAT regulations. Initially, there was 4 per cent sales tax on hotels and restaurants. After the introduction of VAT, it was hiked to 12.5 percent, which was in force till September before it was reverted to 4 per cent."    As the government has stipulated a few set of rules prior to revising the VAT structure, officials also checked if the owners were charging above 4 per cent tax, added Khakhar.    A VAT official in the department did not rule out more inspections in the near future.