The ₹3.13 Crore Porsche: India’s Tax Regime “Crushing Ambition”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Imagine an ₹87 lakh Porsche, a symbol of luxury and aspiration. Now, imagine that very car landing in India, its price ballooning to a staggering ₹3.13 crore. This isn’t just a tale of high-end vehicles; it’s a stark illustration of India’s tax system, which financial analyst Sujay U argues, “punishes aspiration and gives little back in return.”
Sujay recently broke down this alarming reality in a LinkedIn post that quickly resonated. He detailed how an imported luxury car faces a relentless barrage of duties and taxes: a 125% basic customs duty, followed by a 30% countervailing duty, a 4% additional CVD, national calamity duty, other cesses, and finally, a 15% state road tax. The result? Your dream car becomes a nearly four-times-its-sticker-price liability.
But for Sujay, the financial hit is only half the problem. “We pay world-record taxes on cars, yet drive them on pathetic, dusty, pothole-filled roads,” he laments. “It’s about a system that taxes your dreams until they bleed.”
And the critique extends beyond imports. Even locally made cars aren’t spared, facing a 28% GST and additional cesses. While these taxes are often justified as protecting local manufacturers, Sujay questions, “where’s the protection for the citizen?”
This frustration cuts across all income levels. “You don’t need to love Porsche to feel this,” he emphasizes. “It could be your dream bike, an EV, or a simple family car.” The pattern is clear: a persistent cycle of broken infrastructure, zero road safety, and unplanned traffic systems, while consumers shoulder “world-class taxes without receiving world-class roads or transit in return.”
Sujay’s conclusion echoes a sentiment shared by many: “The same tax monster haunts you everywhere. We’re tired of watching our hard-earned money vanish into broken roads, crumbling infrastructure, and silent policymakers.”
