Goa looks at offering tax reimbursement to filmmakers

PANAJI - Barely two days after veteran Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra gave a tongue-lashing to the Goa and central governments for imposing new taxes on the film industry, an embarrassed state government has taken cue.

“We are considering offering tax reimbursement to the filmmakers who are keen on shooting in Goa,” chief executive officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Manoj Srivastava said Wednesday.

The official was speaking at a seminar on film trade on the sidelines of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) being held here.

“We are looking at returning the tax amount back to the filmmaker after he produces proper bills for the amount spent while shooting in Goa,” he said.

“I am echoing the sentiments of Yash Chopra who has also expressed a need for relaxation of taxes,” Srivastava said.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the IFFI in Panaji Monday, Chopra said the state was meting out step-motherly treatment to filmmakers.

“Why is the government treating us in a step-motherly manner? If these new taxes come, I am sure they will come because they have made up their mind, filmmakers will not be able to make movies anymore,” he said.

“India celebrates 100 years of cinema in 2012 and maybe they will be writing the obituary of Indian cinema then,” the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner added.