New Delhi: While the nation is abuzz with celebrations after D. Gukesh made history on Thursday as the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at just 18, dethroning China’s Ding Liren, not only the chess grandmaster but also the income tax department, along with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is on the receiving end of a flurry of congratulations.
On X, a post read, “Congratulations @nsitharaman, @nsitharamanoffc, @IncomeTaxIndia, and @FinMinIndia for earning ₹5 crore without any effort. Gukesh is also going to share the winning trophy with you guys.”
Another chimed in, “Even in chess, they manage to checkmate the earnings.”
The Indian Tax Department is always a step ahead, making sure they get their share of the winnings! Even in chess, they manage to checkmate the earnings.
Earned 5 crore out of 11 crore. #IncomeTax #DGukesh pic.twitter.com/H9Qbo27lLf
— Sarvesh Yadav (@Savy23_09) December 13, 2024
Gukesh is now the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the title.
In the World Chess Championship, each game victory this time came with a prize of $200,000 (roughly Rs 1.69 crore). Gukesh triumphed in three games, earning an impressive $600,000 (around Rs 5.07 crore).
The remaining $1.5 million in prize money will be evenly split between the two players. This brings Gukesh’s total earnings to $1.35 million (about Rs 11.45 crore).
In India, the top income tax rate for individuals in the highest earning bracket is 30%, applicable to those earning over Rs 10 lakh annually.
Additionally, a surcharge of up to 37% is levied on high-net-worth individuals with incomes exceeding ₹5 crore, along with a 4% health and education cess.
If Gukesh’s prize money is taxed at the maximum rate, his tax liability would amount to approximately $405,000 (over Rs 3 crore). Including the surcharge, his total tax outflow could surpass ₹4.67 crore.
This sizable contribution has sparked playful congratulatory messages to the income tax department after Gukesh’s historic victory.
Indian X users couldn’t resist turning it into a tax-themed meme fest.
One X user wrote, “That is called TDS: Tax Deducted by Sitharaman!” while another dubbed it “Tax terrorism.”
Another X user had a cheeky suggestion: “Gukesh must share the trophy with the tax department 🙂 They’re the joint winners.”
“Looks like the Indian Tax Department is the real Grandmaster here—making all the right moves without even touching a chessboard!” another added.
The humor didn’t stop there. @amit6060 added, “Tax Dept’s chess game: Always winning, always taking a piece of the prize, salary, or profits!”
Another comment summed it up perfectly, saying the tax department “actually won the game without even playing.”
Income Tax Department actually won the game without even playing 🤣
— Gokulnath (@Gokulnathsp) December 13, 2024
Social media has turned the celebration into a lighthearted commentary, proving that no victory is immune to India’s tax humour.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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