Government uses Twitter, FAQs to address GST concerns

NEW DELHI: With just about a month to go for the scheduled rollout of goods and services tax ( GST), the government has taken to Twitter as well as releasing FAQs in regional languages to address concerns of trade and industry.

Businesses, especially SMEs, have several queries -from applicability of the Rs 20-lakh threshold on restaurants to details of the new regime for textiles, a
decision that is yet to be taken. In fact, the tax regime for textiles is one of the most contentious and will be on agenda for the GST Council meeting on Saturday. A key concern is the taxation for goods that will be tion for goods that will be with dealers when the switchover happens. The current rules mandate those without excise invoices, which is typically retained by the manufacturer, will only get 40% credit for taxes that have been paid, raising the prospect of de-stocking.

As reported by TOI last week, government sources have indicated that the rules may be eased.

A lot of the queries that the department is getting are related to rates for various products. The effort has come in for praise from several quarters especially with revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia, too, taking to Twitter to address several queries.