MUMBAI: The BMC’s proposal to increase theatre tax on cinema halls and other entertainment venues is still awaiting approval from the state government’s Urban Development (UD) Department, civic officials said. Until the revised rates are sanctioned and notified, only the existing rates will apply, officials said.The civic administration has proposed retaining the existing 2014-15 rates for 2027-28 until the state government approves the revised rates and issues a notification in the Official Gazette.The proposed revision, pending with the UD department, could see the tax on multiplex cinemas increase to Rs 400 per show from the existing Rs 60 for air-conditioned cinemas. The proposal provides for a tax of Rs 200 per show for single-screen AC cinemas, Rs 90 for non-AC cinemas, and Rs 100 per show for drama, jalsa and other entertainment programmes.Tajinder Tiwana, a law committee member, said the proposal was discussed in detail during the law committee meeting held on Tuesday and would be deliberated further.The BMC has been pursuing approval of the revised rates with the state government. According to the civic proposal, the revised rates will come into force only from the date specified by the state government in its Gazette notification.“For now, the old rates will continue to apply as the revised rates are yet to be sanctioned by the Urban Development Department,” a BMC official said.Under the existing rates, an AC cinema is charged Rs 60 per show and a non-AC cinema Rs 45 per show. Drama and other entertainment programmes attract Rs 25 per show, while circuses and funfairs are taxed at Rs 50 per day.The BMC has also proposed continuing the exemption from theatre tax for Marathi and Gujarati films, plays, one-act plays and tamashas, irrespective of the category of theatre.The 6% concession available since 1959 to taxpayers who pay their monthly theatre tax in advance by the fifth of the month is also proposed to continue for 2027-28.The annual theatre tax rates for 2027-28 will require approval from the Law Committee, Standing Committee and the Municipal Corporation.
