Reforms in GST this fiscal as it celebrates second anniversary

2^nd anniversary of Goods & Services Tax to be celebrated on 1st July 2019

The second anniversary of Good & Services Tax (GST) will be celebrated tomorrow with Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Thakur presiding over the event.

Shri Subhash C. Garg, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Revenue Secretary, Secretaries of the Ministries of Finance, Shri P.K. Das, Chairman CBIC, Members of CBIC, and senior officers of various Ministries of Government of India will also attend the event. Senior functionaries of the apex chambers of commerce, trade and industry will also be present in large numbers. Similar functions will be held across the country in all States and Union Territories.

GST was launched on the 1^st July, 2017 in a majestic ceremony held in the Central Hall of Parliament on the midnight of 30^th June, 2017. Hence, the Government alongwith partners from the trade and industry is celebrating the 2^nd Anniversary of GST on 1^st July 2019.

However, the implementation of GST has not been without challenges especially in the early months. But thanks to the cooperation of the Trade and Industry and the yeoman service rendered by the GST authorities of the States and the CBIC, these challenges have been overcome and GST has now settled down. Hence, the Government is commemorating the true spirit of Growing and Sharing Together (GST).

At the event a book on “GST for MSME” will also be released. The distinguished officers of CBIC who have put in hard work in the implementation of GST will be awarded ‘GST Commendation Certificates’ by the Union Minister of State Shri Anurag Thakur.

Some advantages of GST:

• Simplified Tax Structure: Reduction in cascading effect of taxes, transparent and has harmonisation of laws and procedures.
• Easy Compliance: compliance burden has come down with one pan-India tax replacing multiple taxes and automated processes.
• Promoting Trade and Industry:  Seamless flow of tax credit.
• Spurring Economic Growth: Creation of unified common national market.

Some developments during the GST journey since 2017:

• Subsuming of taxes: It was new experience of subsuming 17 different types of taxes under GST. Pre – GST, Trade & Industry had to undergo compliances under Central Excise, Service Tax & VAT and doing business in multiple states involved adhering to different VAT laws, compliance through different portals and answering to different authorities. All that has been unified into a single robust online system.Starting up has become simple with one-stop online GST registration for wanting to do business anywhere in the country.
• Formalisation of economy: More and more businesses moving in the formal economy is evident from the significant increase in the GST taxpayer base. Moving to the formal economy has brought in more visibility and hence more opportunities for Trade and Industry.
• State borders: The State boarders’ glitches and delays have come down significantly. Due to different VAT laws in different states, inter-state transactions were a pain for Trade and Industry. CST charged on inter-state transactions were an additional cost with no input-credit available and thousands of productive hours were wasted at state border crossings. Cost and time of doing inter-state transactions have come down significantly after implementation of E – way bill.
• Rate Rationalisation: Major changes in the Tax rates of various items whereby 28% items pulled to 18%, 18% items pulled to 12% & 12% items pulled to 5%. Further various essential goods were made tax free. Mostly goods are unbranded and manufactured by MSMEs. The reduction in almost all the cases has been from the higher to the immediately lower tax slab (whether from 12% to 5% or 18% to 12%) and involves indigenously processed foods, man-made textile yarn, stationery and other job-work items.
• Return filing: The original concept of four Tax returns in a month (GSTR-3B, 1, 2 & 3) was gradually curtailed to two tax returns viz: GSTR-3B & 1. Further the Govt. extended due dates for filing tax returns as and when felt necessary. Quarterly Returns were also prescribed for small taxpayers. Reduction in the late fee payable for delay in filing tax returns from Rs 200/- per day to Rs 50/-per day /Rs 20/- per day. For the Trade and Industry whose turnover was turnover below five crores, quarterly return filling system is proposed. This will benefit 93% of the taxpayers, reduce their compliance burden and increase ease of doing business. 
• Exports & Refunds: Exports are made possible on the basis of Bond/LUT and without payment of IGST tax. A major package for exporters / merchant exporters has been announced after discussions with various Export Promotion Councils & organizations like FIEO, APEC, GJEPC, EEPC, Handicraft EPC etc. Refund Fortnights were conducted on 15^th March to 31^st March, 2018, 31^st May to 14^th June, 2018 and 16^th July to 30^th July, 2018.
• GST Law Amendment Act, 2018: In its 28th meeting of GSTC held in New Delhi on 21.07.2018, the GST Council recommended certain amendments in the CGST Act, IGST Act, UTGST Act and the GST (Compensation to States) Act. In order to ensure that the changes in the Centre and the State GST laws are brought into force simultaneously, these amendments are made effective from 01.02.2019.
• MSME support and outreach programme: With effect from 2^nd November 2018 GST Help desks were created by CBIC  at 80 places all over the India to support MSMEs and hand holding of MSMEs was done with regard to GST Registration / Return Filing / Refunds / E – way bill etc.

Further reforms in current fiscal (2019-20):

• New return system: Introduction of New Return System on trial basis from 01.07.2019 and on mandatory basis from 01.10.2019. SAHAJ & SUGAM Returns for small taxpayers are proposed
• Single Cash Ledger: Rationalisation of Cash Ledger in such a manner that earlier 20 heads are merged into 5 major heads. There is only one Cash Ledger for Tax , interest, penalty, fee & others .
• Single Refund Disbursing: The Central or State Government which sanctions refund disburses all four major heads of refunds namely CGST, SGST, IGST and Cess.
• Threshold limit for goods: Threshold Limit of Rs 40 Lacs is offered of suppliers of goods as per the choice of States.
• Composition Scheme for Services: Composition Scheme for small service providers up to annual turnover of Rs 50 lacs with a tax rate of 6%
• E-invoicing system: Electronic invoicing system in a phase-wise manner for B2B transactions is proposed to be introduced.
• GSTAT: GST Appellate Tribunals are being established at various State Headquarters and area benches also.

The introduction of GST is a game changer for Indian economy as it has replaced multi-layered, complex indirect tax structure with a simple, transparent and technology–driven tax regime. It has integrated India into a single, common market by breaking barriers to inter-State trade and commerce. By eliminating cascading of taxes and reducing transaction costs, it will enhance ease of doing business and provide an impetus to ‘Make in India’ campaign.