GST dept asks tax payers to file returns regularly

The state’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) department, during a seminar held by the Times Group on Thursday, requested the tax payers to file their returns regularly.

During the event, traders and businessmen spoke about the issues regarding e-way bills and non-refunds. State GST deputy commissioner Sanjay Pokharkar answered various queries of the tax payers and also advised them to write to the GST council if they have any suggestion related to the policy.

The new tax regime GST came into effect from July 1 last year, replacing multiple indirect taxes. Traders with turnover below Rs 20 lakh have been exempted from GST, while those with annual business turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore are eligible for composition scheme.“Over 20 different taxes have been merged in GST as a single tax. Only liquor, petroleum products, tobacco and stamp duty & registrations have not been brought under the GST. But government is planning to bring petroleum products and stamp duty under GST,” said Pokharkar.

The Union finance ministry has created an online government portal i.e. Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) for tax registration, filing of returns and tax payments. There is no human touch there. Traders will have to use their user name and passwords while carrying out the tax retuning filing process.

But some businessmen and traders complained that there are still some defects in the software. “We are not getting credit input since implementation of the GST,” Sanjay Mule, a businessmen, said.

Pokharkar also asked the people that they should send their suggestions or queries directly to the GST council.