Debt-ridden Vodafone Idea slapped with GST demand worth Rs 73-crore

The highest penalty was levied by the GST office in Kolkata

Vodafone Idea has been slapped with GST demand orders worth more than Rs 73 crore comprising tax dues with penalty and interest, a regulatory filing said on September 2.

The debt-ridden telecom has received nine orders from various GST offices, mostly over alleged short payment of taxes and availing excess input tax credit (ITC).

Vodafone has said that it does not agree with the orders and will take appropriate action for the reversal or rectification of the orders. "The company does not agree with the orders and will take appropriate action(s) for rectification/ reversal of the same," the filing stated.

The highest penalty was levied by the GST office in Kolkata at Rs 33.44 crore, along with demand of tax and interest on September 1 for "alleged tax short paid on outward supply, excess ITC availed".

The Noida GST office has ordered Vodafone Idea (VIL) to pay a "penalty of Rs 26,89,94,489 along with demand and interest as applicable" on September 1 over alleged "excess availment of ITC and short tax paid for FY 2019-20" by the company.

And, the Patna GST office has slapped a penalty of Rs 10.94 crore along with demand and interest on the company.

VIL has received a penal order of Rs 4,211 from Chandigarh GST office, Rs 1.57 crore order from the Andhra Pradesh circle, Rs 9.51 lakh from Odisha, and Rs 50,000 and Rs 36,000 from the Himachal Pradesh office, according to exchange the filing.

(With PTI inputs)