West Bengal tops GST enrolment chart so far

KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal has achieved the highest enrolment in Goods & Services Tax (GST) through the Central Board of Excise and Customs so far with 91% of targeted tax payers in the state getting ready to be assessed under the new tax regime.

Kolkata ranks third among Indian cities in GST enrolment. after Ahmedabad and Mysore, according to data available with Service Tax of Kolkata Commissionerate.

Principal Commissioner of Service Tax Bijay Kumar presented the data at GST training programme organised by CII.

According to data available with CII, VAT migration in West Bengal is also impressive at 86.6%. Moreover, Kolkata ranks third among all the cities in the number of GST enrolment, ys the data.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the training programme, a senior official from the Commercial Tax Department of West Bengal said the State Government is trying to make “GST system as simpler as possible” for businesses in the state. It is also trying hard to keep the tax rate to the level which will suit tax-payers, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

“Currently, books are kept outside the purview of VAT. The West Bengal government wants to keep books tax-free in GST regime, too, keeping in mind the love for books the people in this state have is profound,” the official said. “Footwear is another important product – reason why the state government is working on a proposal to keep footwear below Rs 500 free of GST,” the official said.

Earlier, Mr Bijay Kumar mentioned that GST will be efficient and technology-driven. The GST Council will sort out the challenges regarding the rates. “

India will follow dual GST -- a Central GST and State GST, from July. There will be integrated GST which will replace the central sales tax.