The city has only 37 marriage halls and eight caterers registered with the commercial taxes department as against the 400 marriages halls and 300 catering firms. The taxmen are now identifying the caterers and marriage hall owners to check for tax evasion and finalise tax liability on them.

The marriage halls and caterers have been brought under the ambit of service tax since April 1 last year.

The department has now decided to start a survey from May 14 for preparing a list of the marriage halls and caterers. Their income would be checked and tax liability would be finalised accordingly.

Meanwhile, the owners of marriage halls and caterers, who pay tax regularly, alleged that the laxity on the part of the officials led to delay in tax collection.

Raju Bhati who has recently launched 'Khush Jayaka' to meet requirement of high end customers in the city said the state government must be considerate while imposing the tax on the caterers.

The commercial taxes department has decided to carry out door-to-door survey to prepare the list of the marriage halls and caterers in the city. "It is quite strange that the commercial taxes department has not acted since the orders last year," said a marriage hall owner.

However, commercial tax department will begin the survey on May 14 and it will continue till May 23. During the survey, the firms that had an annual income up to Rs 5 lakh will be served notices.

"Though the ceiling has been raised to Rs 10 lakh for the fiscal 2012-13, it will come into effect at the end of the current financial year only," said an official of the department.

Talking to ToI, DN Sakhyawar, deputy commissioner, commercial taxes department, said they have already devised a way how to bring the prospective marriage halls and caterers under the tax net. "For this, we have formed ward wise team of officials for every circle, he said. There are a total of 15 circles in the city at present.