Nagpur: Countrywide taxpayers were expecting GST in lines with ease of doing business, however complex GSTR-1, GSTR-2, GSTR-3 returns monthly being mandatory, although more returns could be required to be filed if conditions require, came to like a multifarious procedure in form of GST thereby putting all small taxpayers in extreme worry.
Agreeing to these concerns of small traders Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) wrote to Narendra Modi – Prime Minister, Arun Jaitley – Union Finance Minister & Chairperson GST Council and Sudhir Mungantiwar – Finance Minister for Maharashtra & member of GST Council requesting to amend Goods and Services Tax Act and Rules, whereby small traders are permitted to file return quarterly instead of monthly.
J. P. Sharma, president of VTA said that since the implementation of GST, traders instead to focus on their trade are spending more time with their chartered accountants as the complex book & record keeping is very difficult for vast majority of businesses. VTA has been supporting GST wholeheartedly, however its procedures needs to be user friendly so that this tax practice is accepted with open arms.
Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary of VTA said that we vehemently support new tax regime with spirit that it would accelerate the country’s economic growth and end the ‘inspector raj’, however the conditions doesn’t seem to be following the much acclaimed such claim by the government earlier. Although VTA also strongly believes that GST will definitely benefit the country in time ahead however gradual implementation is requested during such transitional period.
VTA requested PMO and GST Council that businesses with turnover under Rs 100 Lakh should be allowed quarterly returns. Likewise easier format of tax returns should be explored for small traders; although VTA completely understand that this may cause resulting in the system being unable to match the returns, but such relaxation is required initially so that the system is adopted by all taxpayers gradually, which will be in the interest of both Revenue Department as well as the taxpayers.
VTA also requested GST Council to also introduce periodical classes in tier one & two cities to train accountants as presently they are finding it extremely difficult to prepare data as per GSTR requirements and small error causing mismatch, thereby destroying the basic advantage of interlinked tax structure. VTA surely support GST, however it should not miss government’s proclaimed principle of ease of doing business.
