Annapurna Studios and Ramanaidu Studios in Hyderabad served with notices for higher trade license fee payments

In two cases involving high profile establishments, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has issued notices to the Annapurna Studios in Banjara Hills and Ramanaidu Studios in Film Nagar for payment of enhanced trade license fee running into lakhs of rupees.

While both the establishments have been paying the fee for many years, the extents shown in records are far less than what the authorities have determined them to be, officials said.

Difference in plinth area and trade license fee

Annapurna Studios Private Limited has been paying a trade license fee of ₹49,032 per annum against a claimed plinth area of 8,172 square feet. The GHMC’s Revenue wing has determined the plinth area to be 1,92,066 square feet, against which the trade license amount would be ₹11,52,396.

Ramanaidu Studios, under the trade name Suresh Productions Private Limited, has been paying a fee of mere ₹7,614 so far, against the claimed plinth area of 1,903 square feet. The GHMC has served notices for payment of ₹2,73,104 against the estimated plinth area of 68,276 square feet.

Speaking to The Hindu, Additional Commissioner, IT& Revenue, Anuraag Jayanti said the plinth area of the two businesses differed vastly between trade license and property tax records. Notices have been served for revision of the same with enhanced fee component based on the property tax records.

“They will have an opportunity to respond to the notice, explaining why they should not be levied higher fee, after which final decision will be taken on revision,” Mr. Jayanti informed.

While they have been paying lower amounts for decades, it has not been yet decided if the fee would be collected with retrospective effect or prospective effect, he said.