Tax Talk with the AFE Winner Who Bets On ‘Staying Calm’ In Chaos

In this episode of Infipod, host Radhika Avdaz interviews Santosh Hatwar Tekkete, Principal of Corporate Taxation at Infosys and a recent AFE (Annual Function Excellence) winner, about his journey in navigating one of the most high-stakes tax challenges in the company's history. The episode centers on a four-year-long investigation by the GST department that resulted in a proposed demand of 32,000 crores in tax, with potential penalties pushing the total to over 1 lakh crores. Santosh recounts the intense 11-month effort involving multiple trips to Delhi, consultations with the finance ministry and CBIC, industry advocacy through NASCOM, and strategic transparency to position Infosys not as a tax evader but as a test case for broader industry reform. His three decades of experience in indirect taxation, combined with a calm, principled approach, were pivotal in securing a closure notice and setting a precedent for future cases. Santosh also reflects on the evolution of GST in India, calling for a 'GST 3.0' with deeper legislative and policy reforms to realize the original vision of a unified, transparent, and fair tax regime. He emphasizes the role of Infosys’ culture—rooted in 'compassionate capitalism' and the freedom to excel—in enabling such high-impact work. The conversation closes on a note of pride in both personal achievement and organizational values, underscoring how integrity, experience, and a supportive culture can drive transformative outcomes in complex regulatory environments.