Indian tax authorities have identified major appliance companies incorrectly claiming tax credits for non-existent e-waste processing services. The companies relied on documents from a recycler accused of fabrication and lacked verification of actual work done. Haier, Godrej & Boyce, and Blue Star face penalties for these false claims, totaling about $714,000. Investigators have found manipulated photographs used to support compliance with recycling regulations.

Indian tax authorities have faulted appliance makers Haier, Godrej & Boyce and Blue Star for not detecting documents fabricated by a spurious recycler who did no e-waste work, while relying on them to meet green goals, a government notice showed.

The third-biggest generator of e-waste after China and the United States, India has been concerned that 78% of the waste from discarded electronic goods is processed by informal scrap dealers who use methods that harm the environment.

Reuters reviewed an August 27 notice sent to the three home appliance majors that detailed the lapses. Indian officials also accused them of wrongly claiming tax credits of $714,000 for recycling services that were never actually rendered.

"The foundational activity of procurement, receipt and processing of e-waste itself is not established," the tax officials said in their 550-page notice.

Godrej & Boyce and Blue Star said they would respond to the notice and were committed to legal compliance, adding that the recycler concerned...

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