Indian cricketers angry at tax hit
India’s cricketers are angry at boosting the Australian government’s coffers.
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| Sachin Tendulkar: Batting for the tax man [GALLO/GETTY] |
India cricketers are angry that earnings on their current tour of Australia will be taxed by local authorities.
Newspapers have reported that new Australia tax laws mean up to $1.29 million in payments and tour fees paid to Indian players will be claimed by federal taxes.
The players do not pay taxes on those earnings in India but only on income from sponsorships, the newspapers reported.
Tax laws imposed in Australia in July 2004, after India’s last cricket tour, require all entertainers and sportsmen working in Australia to pay taxes.
India team media manager Dr M.K. Shridhar said the Board of Control for Cricket in India was looking at ways to get around the tax problem.
“This taxation issue is being handled by our office in Bombay,” he said.
“We are taking the position of what our own tax consultants at the BCCI say.
“Cricket Australia is helping, and they will work together and come back to us with a solution. Then I am not very sure if it will still apply.”
Australia and India meet in the first of a four-test series in Melbourne on December 26.