Uttarakhand Tax Department Detects Rs 2.5 Crore Tax Evasion at Ramnagar Resort:

The Uttarakhand State Tax Department has detected alleged tax evasion of around Rs 2.5 crore during a search at a resort in Bhalon village near Ramnagar. The resort management has deposited Rs 1 crore and assured the department that the remaining amount will be paid soon.

The action was taken on the directions of the GST Commissioner, Uttarakhand. Deputy Commissioner of the State Tax Department, Vinay Prakash Ojha, said that the Joint Commissioner (Enforcement and Special Investigation/Preventive), Haldwani, had formed three teams to investigate the matter. He added that the resort’s business activities and tax returns had been under close watch for several months.

Based on the findings, a team from the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) conducted a search at the resort and checked its accounts and business records. The investigation revealed a suspected tax evasion of around Rs 2.5 crore, resulting in a possible loss of revenue to the state government.

Ojha said the resort had not been paying the applicable state tax in Uttarakhand since 2025. Following the department’s action, the management deposited Rs 1 crore, while the remaining amount is expected to be paid soon, he added.

The department is also investigating the billing practices of resorts and other service providers operating in Uttarakhand. Officials said some businesses provide services to tourists and customers within the state but issue bills in the name of their head offices located in other states.

Ojha said that if such practices are found to violate tax rules, they could lead to a loss of State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) revenue for Uttarakhand. He added that the department is closely monitoring such transactions to ensure that taxes collected from businesses operating within the state are properly accounted for.

The department is also keeping a close watch on resorts in Ramnagar, Nainital and nearby tourist destinations to check tax compliance and prevent revenue losses to the state government.