Hotels asked to deposit entertainment tax

ALLAHABAD: Tough action would be taken against hotel owners who fail to deposit entertainment tax, said the district magistrate (DM) Rajshekhar while presiding over a meeting of hotel owners, on Saturday.The DM further added the hotel owners will be given a week's time to deposit taxes failing which their hotel would be sealed by the district administration. Issuing instructions to all unregistered hotels and marriage halls to get their establishments registered, the DM said that hotel and marriage halls would not be allowed to function without registration and the regional tourist officer should issue a guideline in this regard.During the meeting, the regional tourist officer informed that there were around 9 hotels in the city which have not deposited entertainment tax yet which included Platinum, DPS, Mandiram, Vishram and others. It was also informed that one of these hotels has been constructed without seeking proper sanction from the Allahabad Development Authority (ADA).The DM said entertainment tax should be deposited by hotels by the 7th of every month through treasury challan and regional tourism officer should be informed in this regard within 15 days. The assessment of entertainment tax of all hotels in the city would be undertaken in the current financial year and hotel owners should maintain their cash registers, bill books and other relevant documents for assessment.