On Thursday, State Financial Commissioner (Taxation) Krishan Kumar conducted a surprise inspection in the old market area near Rainak Bazaar, uncovering a common practice of shop owners selling items without issuing bills to evade GST. While no penalties were imposed during the visit, the Commissioner issued warnings to the traders and interacted with customers, ensuring they received bills for their purchases.
Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Darveer Raj and Assistant Commissioner Sunil Kumar, the inspection team faced initial resistance from shopkeepers, who expressed concerns over sales being affected during the festive season. However, the officials assured that the current visit aimed only to raise awareness and would not result in immediate action. The team also checked bill books of several shops to identify non-compliance.
A GST inspector involved in the inspection emphasized the importance of Business-to-Customer (B2C) billing and reiterated the need for all traders to register for a GST number. "While no action has been initiated yet, shopkeepers must ensure that every customer receives a bill," the inspector stated.
Despite Thursday being a state holiday for Agrasen Jayanti, Krishan Kumar and his team inspected approximately 40 shops. The checks continued in other markets, targeting various businesses, including dhabas, furniture stores, and stationery shops. The inspections serve as a warning to traders to comply with GST regulations and improve billing transparency.
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