Nagpur: The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax (Vidarbha Zone), S K Panda on Wednesday said, “The trust between traders and Tax Department is absolutely must for the growth of the country.” He was speaking at an interaction meet organised under the aegis of Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) by all trade and industry associations and institutions of chartered accountants, cost accountants and company secretaries in the city. The function, which was organised on the onset of the GST regime, was also attended by Commissioner of Customs, Central Excise, Ashish Chandan, Commissioner (Appeals), C R Meena and Commissioner of Nashik Zone, Rajpal Sharma.
Panda said that in the era of providing ease of doing business, the tax departments have realised that traders too are earning for the country and hence coordination with them was necessary. To build the cooperation and an atmosphere of trust, the entrepreneurs and tax collectors must have dialogue over the disputed issues to find out solutions. The tax department was doing and that now entrepreneurs also must come forward, he said assuring them of all time cooperation of Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax Department.
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Setting the interaction rolling, senior chartered accountant and former President of ICAI, Ashok Chandak said that the meet was organised to sort out different issues about Central Excise and Service Tax. He also made a strong case for reducing the proposed Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) for GST from 27 percent to reasonable level.
The President of VIA, Atul Pande, said that “ease of doing business” has become the key word and the government was duty bound to usher in this tax payer friendly regime in the country by introducing GST.
The President of Butibori Manufacturers Association, Pradeep Khandelwal demanded soft approach towards SMEs as they would emerge as the largest revenue contributor and employment providers in the GST regime also.
The President of Nagpur Chamber of Commerce Limited (NCCL), Kailash Jogani made strong case for reduction in penal interest. “The Income Tax Department has reduced it from 24 per cent to 10-11 per cent today and Customs and Central Excise Department also should consider it,” he said.
The President of Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce, Mayur Panchmatia, Chairman of ICSI, Manish Rajvaidya, Chairman of ICAI, Kirti Agrawal, Chairman of ICMA, Shriram Mahankaliwar, President of Customs House Agents Association, Sudhir Agrawal also spoke on the occasion.
The interaction meet was followed by an Open House. Secretary of VIA, Rohit Agrawal delivered concluding remarks. The Chairman of VIA Taxation & Corporate Law Forum, Naresh Jakhotia conducted the proceedings and proposed a vote of thanks.
