After 7 months, traders fear GST glitches

Major revamp of portal necessary to make it more efficient

Even after seven month of GST implementation, industry is concerned with glitches in GST portal, cumbersome return filing process and e-way Bill, according to a survey done by Ficci.

“All respondents of the survey pointed out issues with the robustness and volume handling capacity of the GST portal. Problems like delayed reflection of updated data as well as payments, delays in process of input credit set offs, inability to upload heavy files of certain formats and lack of provision to modify or revise errors posed major challenges to businesses,” said Ficci.

It said that respondents suggested that a major revamp of the portal was necessary to make it more efficient. There should be provisions for auto set off of the liability against available credit, it said.

Around 59 per cent respondents to the survey comprised of MSME firms whereas the rest 41 per cent were large firms, said Ficci.

“The other pressing issue that all respondents of the survey raised was the cumbersome procedures and documentation for filing of returns. Monthly filing of GST return has been cited as a cumbersome procedure,” said Ficci.

It said that around 78 per cent of the respondents suggested that the periodicity of return filings for those taxpayers having aggregate turnover above `1.5 crore should be changed from monthly to quarterly.

“For services providers, multiplicity of registrations was a concern as a separate registration is now required with every state where service is being provided,” said Ficci.

There should also be a centralised registration for inter-state services, it said.

Implementation issues related to e-way Bills also are also bothering traders. E-way bill is an electronically generated document which is required for the movement of goods of more then `50,000 from one place to another.