How Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketer, saved Rs 58 lakh income tax by calling himself an actor

Sachin Tendulkar — the man who made bowlers around the world tremble — once stunned not on the pitch, but in the courtroom. The reason - the cricket legend convinced tax officials that he wasn’t a cricketer… but an actor!

Yes, you read that right. The God of Cricket, who started playing international cricket since the age of 16 and was was Wisdom Cricketer of the year in 1997, too pulled off a masterstroke and saved Rs 58 lakh in taxes, simply by changing his profession on paper.

According to Sujit Bangar of Taxbuddy, back in FY2002-03, Sachin earned about Rs 5.92 crore in forex from foreign commercials for Pepsi, VISA, and ESPN. Instead of treating this as “cricket income,” he claimed a 30% deduction (Rs 1.77 crore) under Section 80RR — a tax benefit meant for actors, writers, and artists earning abroad.

The Income Tax Assessment Officer sent a notice in response saying, "You’re a cricketer; endorsements are incidental. Treat it under Other Sources; no 80RR."

But Sachin, ever the calm strategist, didn’t play a rash shot. He replied: “I performed modelling/acting. That’s an actor's profession; 80RR applies to it.”

And the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) agreed! ITAT allowed the full 80RR claim (?1.77 Cr) on foreign endorsements; the artistic performance—not cricket.

The tribunal said that “acting” isn’t limited to Bollywood — it includes any creative performance involving skill, imagination, and artistry. Modelling or acting in TV ads counts too.

In short — one man, two professions: cricketer on the field, actor on screen.

Sachin’s claim stood firm. The ITAT allowed the full Rs 1.77 crore deduction, acknowledging that his foreign endorsement income came from artistic performance, not cricket.