Who is Taslim,UP YouTuber earning ₹1 crore raided by IT department

New Delhi: The Income-Tax (I-T) department has conducted a raid on a prominent YouTuber based in Uttar Pradesh, accusing him of evading taxes on his substantial income generated from hosting YouTube shows. 

The operation has yielded the discovery of ₹24 lakhs in cash, as well as gold jewelry and other valuable items, at his residence in Bareilly.

Identified as Taslim, a resident of Bareilly, the YouTuber operates a channel called ‘Trading Hub 3.0’, where he shares videos on various aspects of the stock market. Over the past few years, he has amassed nearly ₹1 crore in earnings, according to reports from the news agency PTI. His YouTube channel currently boasts 1 lakh subscribers and features 58 videos.

The Income Tax Department became aware of Taslim’s activities after receiving information from the local police regarding his financial transactions. Officials from the tax department have recorded his statement and are now investigating his bank accounts, transactions, and income tax returns from previous years.

While the investigation is still ongoing, a senior officer from the I-T department informed PTI that no definitive conclusions have been reached thus far.

However, Taslim’s family vehemently denies the allegations of tax evasion. His brother, Feroze, asserted that Taslim has been running his YouTube channel for nearly five years and has diligently paid income tax on his earnings. Speaking to NDTV, Feroze dismissed the raid as a premeditated conspiracy.

This development comes on the heels of recent raids by the tax department on around 10 YouTubers and social media influencers in Kerala, primarily young artists and actors, as reported by PTI. In June, the I-T department initiated a probe against several social media influencers and content creators who were suspected of not disclosing their income and profits commensurate with their earnings.

Last year, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative authority of the I-T department, introduced a new provision under the Income Tax Act. Section 194R mandates a 10% tax deduction at source (TDS) for individuals receiving benefits or perquisites exceeding ₹20,000 per year from their business or profession.

As the investigation into Taslim’s case continues, the Income Tax Department remains committed to ensuring compliance with tax regulations and cracking down on any potential tax evasion within the digital content creator sphere.