Tax professionals of Biswanath Chariali demand better tax administration

BISWANATH CHARIALI: As a part of the all India protest call by the Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association, Trade Association and Professional Bodies on Friday to demand better tax administration, ease of doing business and good governance, a memorandum was submitted to the Assistant Commissioner of State Taxes, State GST, Biswanath Chariali unit by the tax professionals of Biswanath Chariali.

They demanded to consider a good number of points, including unstable GST Law as it has resulted in large-scale disturbances of business even after four years of implementation causing revenue losses and increased litigations and thus hampered ease of doing business, denial of GST input tax credit which was the soul of GST Act, no revision of GST returns, power to authorities for cancellation of registration and blocking of ITC causing harassment to honest taxpayers, non-functioning of Tax Compliances Portals GSTN and MCA which caused damage to taxpayers by way of draconian and undemocratic late fees for no fault of them, rigid approach of the government against trade and tax professionals' associations and professionals who are the pillars of tax collection in India, non-adherence by the government to various representations during COVID-19 pandemic causing large-scale health hazards to taxpayers and tax professionals complying with unreasonable due dates and Income Tax Utilities not made available on time and being changed frequently even after direction by the High Court not to do so, leading to delay in filing of Income Tax Returns and completion of audits.

Considering the above points, Western Maharashtra Tax Practitioners' Association had called for all-India protest against the same and it was largely joined by almost 127 organizations, trade bodies and tax professionals associations across the country on Friday.

The Tax Professionals of Biswanath also urged the Finance Ministry as well the GST Council to take a soft approach towards the dealers and the tax professionals by bringing major changes in the GST Act and the rules viz. revision of Returns, allowing GST credit and providing a strong online GSTN portal.