Imagine getting slapped with a $520 million tax bill—and then being told it’s for something everyone else was doing, too.
That’s Samsung’s gripe with India’s tax authorities.
The South Korean tech titan is fighting back against accusations that it dodged import duties by misclassifying key telecom gear.
Specifically, a component called a “Remote Radio Head.”
Between 2018 and 2021, Samsung sold the gear to Reliance Jio.
But now India says Samsung owes back tariffs, plus an $81 million fine on seven employees.
What’s Samsung’s Defense?
Everyone knew. In a fiery 281-page filing, the company says Indian officials were “fully aware” of the practice.
It points to Reliance Jio’s own similar imports until 2017.
In fact, tax authorities warned Reliance—but no one told Samsung. “We weren’t even questioned,” Samsung argues.
Volkswagen also recently sued India over a jaw-dropping $1.4 billion tax demand.
With profits of $955 million last year in India, this case cuts deep for Samsung.
And the company claims the ruling came in a rush, without a fair hearing.
