Shimla, July 17: Pune-based Anti Virus software major Quick Heal Technologies has been given a clean chit by the Additional Commissioner Excise and Taxation cum Appellate Authority, Shimla, with respect to the appeal by the Company against the allegation of violation of the VAT law in Himachal Pradesh, the company said in a press release.
The Order against Appeal No 176/2012-2013 u/s 45 of the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act 2005, clearly states that there is no liability due under the Himachal Pradesh VAT Act. As such the appeal of Quick Heal was accepted and the orders of Assessing Authority are set aside.
The Assessing Authority had alleged a violation of VAT law in HP, and consequently raised a substantial demand of Rs. 23 crores in 2012. The allegations claimed that Quick Heal had evaded tax in the form of VAT.
The Additional Excise & Taxation Commissioners cum Appellate Authority South Zone, Himachal Pradesh observed in his order that under the HP VAT Act, the liability to pay tax has been cast on the seller and not the buyer.
In the instant case, the seller (job workers) have discharged liability to pay VAT as per provisions of the HP VAT Act and Quick Heal being the buyer has no liability to pay VAT and that too on the sale price arrived at that after inclusion of notional value. As such the appeal of the Appellant is allowed accordingly and the orders of Assessing Authority are set aside, it concluded.
According to company executives, this case was an attempt to deliberately malign the reputation of Quick Heal and to create hurdles in their success foray into the State.
Kailash Katkar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Quick Heal Technologies, said, “We shall not be intimidated by baseless efforts to slander the goodwill and credibility that Quick Heal has established over these years. The positive verdict in favor of Quick Heal has repelled all efforts to damage Quick Heal’s reputation. Our sole aim is to deliver quality products to our end customers which we will honor setting aside all these untrue allegations and conspiracies.”
In the release, Quick Heal also said that it has filed a defamation case against the owner of a certain company, Soft Talk Technologies, who is trying to malign the company.