With Infosys' contract for providing technology support for Goods and Services Tax (GST) ending in September 2024, GST Network (GSTN) has started scouting for a consultancy firm to prepare the bid document for selection of a new service provider and a roadmap for transitioning the system capacity to the next level — GST 2.0.
The consultancy firm would have to ensure a competitive bidding process and a seamless transition of the IT service backbone of GSTN to another technology company, who would be providing the software and hardware required in GST systems for the next seven years beginning October 1, 2024.
The scope of work of the consultancy firm would include preparing a request for proposal (RFP) document by evaluating the present system, based on the experience of the GST technology system of the past seven years, and provide a roadmap for enhancement and operations for the next contract period.
Indirect tax reform, GST, was introduced in India on July 1, 2017.
Prior to the GST rollout, in September 2015, Infosys was awarded a Rs 1,320-crore contract for developing the technology backbone for GST Network.
The IT bellwether outbid TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and Microsoft to bag the contract which involved setting up a database for the new tax regime, enrolment, registration, end-to-end automation, besides providing a system for claiming refunds and credits.
Infosys has been providing necessary IT infrastructure support for GST registration, return filing, tax payment by businesses, as well as audit by tax officers.
“The contracted period of the current Managed Service Provider (MSP), for development, enhancement and operations of the GST System, is nearing its completion. Hence, GSTN intends to execute a competitive bid to finalize a MSP for operating the GST System through the next term of 7 years starting 1st October 2024,” the GSTN said.