The BBC has “acknowledged '' that it may have paid lower taxes in India than its liability, according to government sources. The broadcaster, which has been under the lens of tax authorities with its offices in Delhi and Mumbai ‘surveyed’ a few months ago is, however, yet to file revised returns or make a written submission to the income tax department. “It is only a statement of intent so far, there is no payment,” a source said. A survey is an exercise to check the books and other documents.
This survey came soon after the broadcaster aired a controversial documentary on PM Narendra Modi in the UK. Without naming BBC, in February, the income tax department had alleged that the income and profits disclosed by the organisation's units were “not commensurate with the scale of operations in India”.
It also said the surveys allegedly “indicate that tax has not been paid on certain remittances which have not been disclosed as income in India by the foreign entities of the group”. BBC had said at the time that it was cooperating with authorities.