The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration has decided to increase the theatre tax on theatres, circuses, in Mumbai. This tax hike was not done in the last 13 years. These new taxes have been proposed only for the year 2024-25 and will be implemented after the approval of the state government.
The BMC has the right to levy theatre tax on films, dramas, circus, Anand Bazar experiments and games. Marathi and Gujarati plays, films, one-act plays, pageants are exempted from this theatre tax subsidy. Currently, these taxes are levied as per 2010 rates. So INR 50 to INR 60 rupees are being charged for each game. A proposal to increase this tax rate by 10 percent every year was approved in the General Assembly in 2015. But as it has not yet been approved by the state government, the old rate is being charged. But now the assessment and collector department has decided to increase it. If this tax increase is implemented, the municipality will get an annual revenue of INR 10 crores. The administration has sent the proposal of this rate hike to the state government for approval.
Also Read: MTHL To Have Cheapest Per Km Toll Charges At INR 250 For Cars
So far, a tax of INR 60 per game has been levied for air-conditioned theatres. But the 'multiplex' theatres that have emerged in the last few years have 1 to 8 screens in a single building. Their seating capacity ranges from 50 to 250 and the ticket price ranges from INR 200 to INR 1550. Therefore, the municipality has decided to increase the entertainment tax on this multiplex.
| New and Old Rates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Current Tax | Proposed Tax |
| Multiplex | INR 60 | INR 400 |
| Air Conditioned Cinema | INR 66 | INR 200 |
| Non Air-Conditioned Cinemas | INR 50 | INR 90 |
| Drama, jalsa, other entertainment programs | INR 28 | INR 100 |
| Circus, Anandamela | INR 55 | INR 100 per day |
| For other entertainment programs | INR 30 | INR 70 |