The Tax Bar Association of Balaswar besides expressing their concern over the Good and Service Tax’s (GST) complicated procedures staged a demonstration in front of the Sales Tax office here demanding its simplification.
Association members alleged that the GST guidelines are plethoras of ambiguities that are vivid even after months of its implementation. The frequent alterations in the set of guidelines following GST Cuncil meetings have aggravated the situation.
Neither their clients (traders) nor they nor the Government officers have any clear understanding of the policy guidelines. The tax officers too are not conversant about the new policy. The operations through the computer system are not smooth owing to software glitches, the members said.
As a result, the traders go on suffering. They are being penalised for failing to file returns. The small and marginal traders are on the brink of shutting their businesses for being in a chaotic trading environment because of the complications, harassment and losses due to penalty, they pointed out.
The association members also alleged that a few High Courts in the country have already directed the Government to address the issues, but yet they are not resolved. They also urged the department to make the policy user-friendly and simpler.
The association submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Commercial Tax urging needful action and threatened to intensify their agitation if their grievances are not addressed at the earliest.