Debt-laden telecom firm Vodafone Idea (VIL) has been hit with demand orders from multiple GST offices, totaling over ₹73 crore in tax dues, penalties, and interest, according to a regulatory filing. The company received nine separate orders, primarily for alleged short payment of taxes and excessive claims of input tax credit (ITC).
The largest penalty, ₹33.44 crore, was imposed by the Kolkata GST office on September 1 for “alleged short payment of tax on outward supply and excess ITC availed.” Similarly, the Noida GST office ordered Vodafone Idea to pay a penalty of ₹26.89 crore, along with tax and interest, for alleged excess ITC claims and underpayment of taxes during the 2019-20 fiscal year.
Other penalties include ₹10.94 crore from the Patna GST office, ₹1.57 crore from Andhra Pradesh, ₹9.51 lakh from Odisha, ₹50,000 and ₹36,000 from Himachal Pradesh, and ₹4,211 from Chandigarh.
Vodafone Idea has stated that it disagrees with the orders and intends to pursue appropriate measures for their rectification or reversal. “The company does not agree with the orders and will take appropriate action(s) for rectification/reversal of the same,” the filing noted.
