FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

 

1.       What is Entertainment?

 

“entertainment’ with all its grammatical variations and cognate expressions means,-

 

(1) cinematograph show including video shows to which persons are admitted on payment or exhibition of films or moving pictures which are viewed and heard on the television receiving set, with the aid of any type of antennae with the cable network attached to it or cable television for which persons are required to make payment by way of contribution or subscription or installation and connection charges or any other charges collected in any manner whatsoever;

 

(2)  A horse race either live or displayed for viewing through any electronic media connected with the help of the server application or otherwise to which persons are admitted on payment;

 

(3) Any amusement or exhibition or performance or pageant or a game or a sport, whether held indoor or outdoor, to which the persons are admitted on payment;

 

(4) River/boat cruise or boat rides or water sports or para sailing or boat skiing or motor cart rides or any other similar activities of entertainment;

 

(5) Casinos and Casino games on slot machines, cyber cafe and/or pool parlours, disco and any other entertainment  provided by clubs/organizations/institutions/individuals  for commercial purpose but will not include entertainment defined separately;

 

(6) Dance performances, musical performances, theatrical performances including cultural programmes, drama, ballets to which persons are admitted on payments;

 

 (7) Circus to which persons are admitted on payment;

 

 (8) DTH (Direct to Home) disc service for which persons  are required to make payment by way of contribution or subscription or installation and any other charges  collected in any manner whatsoever.”.

 

2.  Who is liable to pay Entertainment Tax?

 

Any person who conducts an activity of  entertainment is liable to pay entertainment tax as per Schedule ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ & ‘D’ appended to the Act.

 

SCHEDULE ‘A’

 

(See section 3)

 

Sr. No.

Class of Entertainment

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

1.

Exhibition of cinema films by cinema halls or theatres having valid licence for exhibition under the Cinematograph  Act, 1952 (Central Act, 37 of 1952) and under the Goa , Daman and Diu Cinematograph Rules, 1965:

(a)  On payment for admission not exceeding  Rs. 10/-.

(b) On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 10/- but not exceeding Rs. 50/-.

 

(c)   On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 50/-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Nil

 

30% of theamount paid for admission

 

40% of the amount paid for admission

2.

A horse race either live or displayed for viewing through any electronic media connected with the help of server application or otherwise to which persons are admitted on payment

30% of the   

amount paid for  

admission plus 10%   of the amount charged for betting.

3.

 Any amusement or exhibition or performance or pageant or game or sport, whether held indoor or outdoor, to which the persons are admitted on payment.

(a)   On payment for admission not exceeding Rs. 100/-

(b)  On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 100/- but not exceeding Rs. 500/-.

(c)      On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 500/-

 

(d)     For season tickets:

  (i)   On payment for admission not 

       exceeding  Rs. 400/-

 

 (ii) On payment for admission exceeding

      Rs. 400/-

 

 

 

 

Nil

 

10% of the   

amount paid for  admission.

 

20% of the   

amount paid for  

admission.

  

      Nil

     

       

15% of the   

amount paid for  

Admission.

      

 


SCHEDULE ‘B’

 

(See section 3 )

 

Sr. No.

Class of entertainment

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

1.

River/boat cruise/boat rides/water sports or Jetskiing

     15% of the   

    amount charged  

 

2.

Parasailing and motor cart rides or any other similar activities of entertainment

 

10% of the amount charged.

 

SCHEDULE ‘C’

(See section 3E)

 

Sr. No.

Class of entertainment

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

(i)

Providing entertainment through antennae and cable television or antennae

 

Rs.10/- per month per connection

(ii)

Providing entertainment through cable television exclusively

 

Rs.15/- per month per connection.

(iii)

Headend control room/ Distributors

 

Rs. 10 per connection.

(iv)

Providing entertainment by way of cyber café and pool parlour

 

Five paise in a rupee of the amount charged for admission.

 

(v)

Providing entertainment by way of DTH Disc services

Rs. 20/- per connection.

 

NOTE: In respect of entertainment provided with the aid of antennae or cable television where total number of connections are less than 25 and if the proprietor providing such entertainment is registered under this Act, no entertainment tax will be payable so long as his registration is in force.

 


SCHEDULE ‘D’

 

(See section 3 )

 

Sr. No.

Class of entertainment

Charges for admission per person

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

 

Providing Entertainment through casino , casino games, disco pubs/ clubs/institutions/organizations/

proprietors :

 

(a)   By casino and casino games attached to hotels registered under the Goa Tax on Luxuries Act, 1988 (Act 17 of 1988)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)   By casino and casino games attached to off shore or floating vessels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c) By disco  pubs /clubs/institutions/     /organizations/proprietors/

 individuals.

   

 

 

 

 

(i) For guest in hotel

 

 

(ii) For person not being a hotel guest visiting the place of casinos

 

 

 

 

For person visiting the off shore or floating vessel casinos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   --

 

 

 

 

 

Rs. 10/-

 

 

 

Rs. 200/-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rs. 200/-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

 

       

 

 

 

 

 5% of the sale of

chips or the income         received by the proprietor towards

  casino games on

   slot machines.

 

5% of the sale of

chips or the income         received by the proprietor towards

  casino games on

   slot machines.

 

 

    10% of the amount paid for admission.

 

 

3   Who are liable for registration under the Entertainment Tax Act?

 

Any person who is involved in entertainment activity and if liable to pay tax under Section 3 & 3E is required to be registered under the Entertainment Tax Act, 1964 within 30 days from the date of accruing the liability.

 

4.   What are the fees for registration/renewal?

 

All persons required to register themselves under section 3G & 3H are required to pay registration/renewal fees as per Scheduled ‘E’ appended to the Act.

 

SCHEDULE - E

 

(See sub-sections (2) and (9) of section 3G and sub-section (1) of section 3H)

 

Registration/renewal charges under the Goa Entertainment Tax Act, 1964 (Act 2 of 1964).

 

Sr. No.

Category of proprietor/persons

Amount of registration charges/Renewal charges.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(i)

Multiplexes

 

 Rs. 10,000/-

(ii)

Cinema halls or theatres other than multiplexes in municipal areas/ city of corporation of Panaji area

 

Rs. 5,000/-

(iii)

Cinema halls or theatre in other areas

 

Rs. 2,500/-

(iv)

Horse races whether live or otherwise

 

Rs. 2,500/-

(v)

Casinos/casino games on slot machines attached to hotels

 

Rs. 5,000/-

(vi)

Casinos/casino games on slot machines on floating off shore vessels

 

 Rs. 10,000/-

(vii)

Cable television and/or antennae operators having connections not exceeding 100

 

Rs. 1,000/-

(viii)

Cable television and/or antennae operators having more than 100 connections but not  exceeding 500 connections

 

Rs. 2,500/-

(ix)

Cable television and/or antennae operators having connections exceeding  500

 

Rs. 5,000/-

(x)

Headend Control Room/ Distributors

 

Rs. 5,000/-

(xi)

Cyber café and pool parlour

 

Rs. 2,000/-

(xii)

Boat/river cruises, para sailing, go carts, water sports, boat rides, boat sports and Jetskiing

 

Rs. 1,000/-

(xiii)

Any proprietor or person who applies for grant of provisional Registration under section 3H of the Act

 

Rs. 2000/-

(xiv)

Any other proprietor or person liable for registration under the Act and not covered under serial number (i) to (xiii) above

 

Rs. 1,000/-

 

 

 

3.    What are the rates of entertainment tax?

 

The rates of entertainment tax are indicated below:

SCHEDULE ‘A’

 

(See section 3)

 

Sr. No.

Class of Entertainment

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

1.

Exhibition of cinema films by cinema halls or theatres having valid licence for exhibition under the Cinematograph  Act, 1952 (Central Act, 37 of 1952) and under the Goa , Daman and Diu Cinematograph Rules, 1965:

(d) On payment for admission not exceeding  Rs. 10/-.

(e) On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 10/- but not exceeding Rs. 50/-.

 

(f)   On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 50/-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nil

 

 

30% of the amount paid foradmission

 

40% of the amount paid for admission

2.

A horse race either live or displayed for viewing through any electronic media connected with the help of server application or otherwise to which persons are admitted on payment

30% of the amount paid for admission plus 10% of the amount charged for betting.

3.

 Any amusement or exhibition or performance or pageant or game or sport, whether held indoor or outdoor, to which the persons are admitted on payment.

(e)           On payment for admission not exceeding Rs. 100/-

(f)             On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 100/- but not exceeding Rs. 500/-.

(g)              On payment for admission exceeding         Rs. 500/-

 

(h)              For season tickets:

  (i)   On payment for admission not 

       exceeding  Rs. 400/-

 

 (ii) On payment for admission exceeding

      Rs. 400/-

 

 

 

 

Nil

 

 

10% of the amount paid foradmission.

 

20% of the amount paid foradmission.

  

Nil

     

       

15% of the amount paid for admission.

     

4.

Dance performances, musical performances, theatrical performances including cultural programmes, dramas , ballet to which persons are admitted on payment

(a)           Dance performances, musical performances.

  ( i)  On payment for admission not exceeding  Rs.300/-

 

 

ii) On payment for admission exceeding  

       Rs.300/-

 

 

 

 

(b)          Theatrical performances including cultural programmes , dramas and ballets :

 

(i)             On  payment for admission not exceeding Rs. 100/-

(ii)  On  payment for admission  exceeding Rs. 100/- but not exceeding Rs. 300/-

 

(iii) On  payment for admission  exceeding Rs. 300/-

    

 

 

 

 

 

10% of the amount paid for admission.

 

 

15% of the amount paid for admission.

 

 

  

      

 

Nil

 

10% of the amount paid for admission.

 

15% of the amount paid for admission.

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE ‘B’

 

(See section 3 )

 

Sr. No.

Class of entertainment

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

1.

River/boat cruise/boat rides/water sports or Jetskiing

15% of the    amount charged  

 

2.

Parasailing and motor cart rides or any other similar activities of entertainment

 

10% of the amount charged.

 

 

SCHEDULE ‘C’

(See section 3E )

 

Sr. No.

Class of entertainment

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

(i)

Providing entertainment through antennae and cable television or antennae

 

Rs.10/- per month per connection

(ii)

Providing entertainment through cable television exclusively

 

Rs.15/- per month per connection.

(iii)

Headend control room/ Distributors

 

Rs. 10 per connection.

(iv)

Providing entertainment by way of cyber café and pool parlour

 

Five paise in a rupee of the amount charged for admission.

 

(v)

Providing entertainment by way of DTH Disc services

Rs. 20/- per connection.

 

NOTE: In respect of entertainment provided with the aid of antennae or cable television where total number of connections are less than 25 and if the proprietor providing such entertainment is registered under this Act, no entertainment tax will be payable so long as his registration is in force.

 

 

SCHEDULE ‘D’

 

(See section 3 )

 

Sr. No.

Class of entertainment

Charges for admission per person

Rate of tax

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

 

Providing Entertainment through casino , casino games, disco pubs/ clubs/institutions/organizations/

proprietors :

 

(a)   By casino and casino games attached to hotels registered under the Goa Tax on Luxuries Act, 1988 (Act 17 of 1988)

 

 

 

 

 

 (b)   By casino and casino games attached to off shore or floating vessels

 

 

 

 

 (c) By disco  pubs /clubs/institutions/     /organizations/proprietors/

 individuals.

   

 

 

 

 

(i) For guest in hotel

 

 

(ii) For person not being a hotel guest visiting the place of casinos

 

For person visiting the off shore or floating vessel casinos.

 

 

--

 

 

 

 

 

Rs. 10/-

 

 

 

Rs. 200/-

 

 

 

 

 

Rs. 200/-

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 5% of the sale of chips or the income received by the proprietor towards casino games on slot machines.

 

5% of the sale of

chips or the income         received by the proprietor towards casino games on  slot machines.

 

 

10% of the amount paid for admission.

 

 

Note:-

 

(1) The entry tickets for charges for admission shall be printed by the Office of the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes and casinos operators shall be purchasing the said tickets on making necessary remittances into treasury upon valid authorization by the Office of the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes.

 

(2) The counterfoils of the tickets sold to be returned by the casino operators to the Office of the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes for record by 10th of every month.

 

(3) In respect of casino, any person entering the place of entertainment on payment of entry fee  as per  the Government Notification in that behalf, the charges for admission as specified in column (3) of this Schedule shall be dispensed and deemed to have been paid for the purpose of levy of entertainment tax under the Act.

 

(4) The Commissioner shall have powers to inspect the casinos and any person found entered in the casinos without payment of charges for admission as provided in column (3) above, then the proprietor or the person running such casinos shall be penalized in terms of sub-section (4) of section 8A of the Act.

 

(5) In respect of guest in hotel entering the casinos, by payment for admission charges as specified in column (3) and where the hotelier or the proprietor or person is required to deposit a lump sum amount so calculated for the year on the basis of its total room capacity at Rs. 10 per room per month at the time of registration/renewal of certificate of the hotel, the same will not attract levy of entertainment tax. The hotelier or the proprietor or person is required to make this declaration along with his application for registration under the Goa Tax on Luxuries Act , 1988 ( Act No. 17 of 1988).

 

 

4.    Who is eligible for composition of tax?

 

All river cruise/boat cruise operators  liable to pay tax under section 3 may opt to pay tax by way of composition under section 3D at 50% of the aggregate value of notional receipts receivable for admission worked out as under:

 

Aggregate notion receipts = total capacity of the boat or vessel by way of number of persons, on which entertainment is provided by way of river cruises/boat cruises X rate per ticket per adult person X number of trips.

 

5.    Who is liable for exemption under Entertainment Tax Act?

 

Any person liable to pay tax under the Act may apply for exemption if he fulfills the conditions laid down under section 5(1), 5(2) & 5(3).