The State Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to amend the Odisha Goods and Services Tax (OGST) Bill, 2017 and replace the Odisha Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 and Odisha Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

As per the approval, 12 sections and paragraph 4 of Schedule II of the OGST Act, will be amended and Odisha Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Odisha Ordinance 5 of 2020) and Odisha Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Odisha Ordinance 6 of 2020) will be replaced.The OGST Act was amended to provide various facilities to the taxpayers and tax authorities.

They include extension of scope of ineligibility to opt for composition scheme, delinking the date of issuance of debit note from the date of issuance of the underlying invoice for the purpose of availing input tax credit and empowering proper officer to allow cancellation of registration of the registered taxpayers who have voluntarily obtained registration under Section 25 (3) of the said Act.

It would also grant power to Additional or Joint Commissioner to extend the time limit by further 30 days to file an application for revocation of cancellation of registration subject to sufficient cause being shown and to empower government to specify categories of services or supplies in respect of which a tax invoice would be issued along with time and manner for issuance of such invoice. Besides, it would provide a certificate of TDS issued by  deductor of tax.

It extends punishment to a person who causes to commit offence of availing fraudulent Input Tax Credit and also to a person who retains benefit thereto making such offences a cognizable and non-bailable offence It also empowers Government to make provision for issuance of removal of difficulties order for another two years, i.e. till five years from date of commencement of the OGST Act, 2017.