Oil companies collect I-T data to cut LPG sop

Hyderabad: Oil marketing companies have started collecting annual income declaration forms from domestic LPG consumers.

Consumers are being asked to submit declaration forms at gas agencies as the Centre, in December 2015, decided to withdraw LPG subsidy for consumers with income of more than Rs 10 lakh per annum. However, it is yet to come into force with no guidelines issued to the gas agencies.

Consumers of BPCL, HPCL and IOC in Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh are receiving SMS for the last five days.

However, the declaration is voluntary till now. The SMS from the oil companies read: “If your/spouse income is above Rs 10 lakh, LPG subsidy is not admissible as per government directive. If so, please submit a declaration to your distributor or at www.mylpg.in.”

OMC officials said the annual income included that of the consumer and his/her spouse.

Firms have no plan to seek I-T data

State coordinator for OMCs Madhukar Ingole said, “The income declaration form has been posted on OMCs website. Consumers have to take a print out, fill in the details and submit at gas agencies.”

He added, “We have been sending messages to consumers in TS and AP from February 16. Those having incomes of over Rs 10 lakh are not eligible for subsidy. Sending messages is one of the initiatives to implement the government’s decision.”

The OMCs will also send voice messages to consumers who book LPG refills through IVRS from March 1. He said consumers who had registered for the ‘GiveItUp’ initiative to give up the subsidy voluntarily, need not make the income declaration even if their income was above Rs 10 lakh.

Under GiveItUp, consumers have the option to again avail the subsidy by opting out, but there is no going back once the income declaration is made. A consumer is entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each a year at the subsidised rate.

When asked what action would be initiated against consumers who failed to give income declarations, Mr Ingole said, “As of now it is not mandatory. There is no proposal to seek income details of consumers based on PAN and I-T returns. It all depends on how the Centre goes about it in the future.”