BENGALURU: Auto drivers in India are now in fear of the commercial tax department’s notice, similar to small traders who use online payment systems like PhonePe and Google Pay. To avoid tax implications, auto drivers are requesting customers to pay in cash instead of using UPI (Unified Payments Interface).
Most customers pay auto drivers through UPI, but now drivers are asking for net cash payments due to the tax notices. Some customers are obliged to pay in cash, while others still pay through UPI.
Auto drivers are criticising the government’s tax drive, saying it’s making their lives difficult. Rising costs and a lack of passengers are already making their lives difficult. The tax notices are adding to their woes, and they are worried about how they will survive if they are forced to pay taxes.
The drivers are appealing to customers to understand their situation and pay in cash. However, with most people preferring digital payments, it’s becoming a challenge for auto drivers to adapt to the new demands.
Prakash, an auto driver, said, “As a commoner, why should I pay taxes on all commodities?. If the government imposes a tax on everything, it will be difficult to even survive. All auto drivers’ situations are the same. There is no cash; most of the passengers are paying via UPI. We are not getting Rs 1000 even though we worked from morning to night. Why should they put the tax burden on poor people like us? If the income tax department sends tax payment notices to small-scale vendors, where will they get money? Most of them are living in rented houses. We are afraid of getting tax notice. One day they might send notice to us. So we are requesting passengers to give cash.”
