Hon’ble Chief Minister Devendraji Fadnavis & Urban Development Department, Secretary Smt. Manisha Mhaiskar,, justified FAM/NVCC/demands regarding as announced Amnesty Scheme for recovery of pending Local Body Tax (LBT) for waiver of interest and penalty in twenty-five Municipal Corporations in the State. The period of the amnesty scheme will be from June 3 to July 31, 2015. For availing tax benefit under this scheme, trader have to register themselves. Any trader will not be eligible to claim benefits under the scheme, if he files returns and pays tax after July 31.
NVCC President Mayur Panchmatiya appealed to traders to avail the opportunity of Amnesty Scheme being offered by the Government by paying their disputed/undisputed dues of LBT and get waiver of interest, penalty and avoid further coercive action by the department. The Scheme shall be applicable for the total period starting from the date of implementation of LBT in the Municipal Corporation to March, 2015. Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce organized A Power Point Presentation was shown by Arun Agrawal, Legal Advisor of the Chamber.
While addressing the members Arun Agrawal said that the LBT rules contemplates of payment of interest & penalty, failure to register as a dealer under rule 9 of the LBT rules. The dealers/persons who have filed to register under the LBT rules, similarly those dealer who have not filed returns and/or have not paid Local Body Tax can avail of Amnesty Scheme. The scheme is already notified so apply for registration with the Municipal Corporation. After the said application, prepare records/accounts/sale purchase register etc. No extra effort would be required, if already registered under VAT. The VAT regime also requires the same records and these records are admissible under LBT rules. A further protection is given to the trader that in case of 10% variation of the amount paid by the trader as self-assessment & the trader would not be required to pay any interest or penalty. Similarly any variation more than 10% will attract full interest & penalty. If any person, who avails of amnesty scheme & then files an appeal, review application or writ petition challenging the same, the benefits given under the scheme will be withdrawn.
If trader or person pays total amount of principal tax payable by him to respective corporation during the amnesty period out of pending dues then the total amount of interest or penalty will be waived.
If trader is in appeal and if amount of principal tax out of outstanding dues is paid as per assessment order then interest and penalty shall be waived under the scheme, subject to unconditional withdrawal of appeal.
Thus in the above background and the Amenesty Scheme the trade and industry must avail this golden opportunity.
On the occasion FAM’s LBT Committee, Convener Dipen Agrawal was felicitated by Mayur Panchmatiya as he being the pioneer in bringing LBT/Amnesty Scheme with the co-operation of Mohan Gurnani, President, FAM, Mumbai.
Prominent present amongst the programme to avail Amnesty Scheme Prafulbhai Doshi, Prakashji Wadhwani, Nilesh Suchak, Dipen Agrawal, Past Presidents took part in the discussions.
Govindlalji Sarda, Prakash Mehadia, Hemant Gandhi, Vice Presidents, Manubhai Soni, Secretary, Raju Vyas, Treasurer, Sachin Puniyani, Ashok Sanghvi, Arjundas Ahuja, Jt. Secretaries, Abhishek Jha, Gajanand Gupta, Jaiprakash Parekh, Natwar Patel, Pratap Motwani, Rajeshkumar Ohri, Ramavatar Totla, Rajesh Thakkar, Santosh Kabra, Sanjay Modh Saraf, Syuryakant Agrawal, Shabbar Shakir, Umesh Patel, Vijay Kewalramani, Viren Chandak, Dilipbhai Thakral, Raju Vyas, Yogendrakumar Agrawal, Harish Dudeja, Madhusudan Sarda, Ashwin Mehadia, Harikishan Rathi, Anil Nagpal, Quaid Johar, M. R. Singhvi, Shambhudayal Tekriwal, Ashok Waghwani, Pyush Fattepuria, Ved Prakash Pahuja, H.R. Atalkar were present. Vote of thanks & programme was conducted by Hon. Secretary Manubhai Soni.
