GST to sort out most of film industry's tax issues: Tiwari

With a section of the film industry demanding relief on taxes, the government today said the issues muddling the sector's growth pertain to states, and the advent of the new indirect taxes regime GST could resolve their demands.
"There is very little we can do in terms of trying to help this industry, resolving their issues. The reality is most of the tax issues which continue to muddle the growth of this industry are really state related and I think as we go into the GST regime, you would find most of these tax issues would get resolved and sorted out," I&B Minister Manish Tiwari told reporters.

Addressing an Infocom-Assocham meet here, he also said the government was contemplating to streamline the entire film certification process in wake of some complaints to make it "more transparent and user friendly".
Tiwari said the Centre has moved to set up a judicial committee to have a relook at the Cinematograph Act following the row over Kamal Hasan's movie "Vishwaroopam", to make it more robust and ensure that movies do not get stuck after clearances by the film certification board.
"The eight-member Committee, headed by retired Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court Mukul Mudgal will see how the powers vested with the state and central governments can be reconciled and harmonised so that film producers are not put to this ignominy of having to go to court and having to then knock at various political parties after going through the film certification process," he said.

I&B secretary Uday Kumar Verma also talked about moves to set up a 'film commission' acting as a single window clearance mechanism for shooting in Indian locations.
He said a Cabinet note has been circulated in this regard and the commission could come in the next few months.
It will also do away with the bother of seeking multiple permissions required at union and state level to shoot on India locations.