States will get a period of one-year to implement the provisions of Goods and Services Tax (GST) after introduction of the new indirect tax regime from April 2016.
With states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal still voicing their concerns over GST implementation, the Centre has provided for this one-year extension clause in the GST Constitutional Amendment Bill which was tabled in the lok Sabha on December 19. Touted as the single biggest indirect taxation reform since independence, the GST implementation would create a single tax for goods and services across the country. "The one-year grace period is only a transitory provision and all states will have to finally implement it. States are on board," a senior official said.