Retail shop owners rely on manual bills, some don’t issue any

of retail shops in Delhi continued with the old billing system on Saturday, after being unable to upgrade to the newly implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) system.

Majority of shopkeepers in markets such as Janpath, Karol Bagh and Lajpat Nagar issued manual bills to customers. Some took shortcuts and didn’t issue bills at all, despite having computers.

“I have not installed GST software in my computer yet. It will take a couple of days to configure it. I am still trying to understand its technicalities, which is very complex. Till then, I am issuing manual bills to my customers,” said a 50-year-old owner of a spice shop in Karol Bagh market.

Shopkeepers said their main challenge was clearing old stocks, which have old maximum retail price (MRP). Few traders offered discounts on such items on Saturday, in order to sell them faster before the new prices are fixed.

“Prices are going to increase under the new tax regime. Sales will come down automatically. So I am trying to earn profits as much as possible by offering discounts. I fear that my business will be affected,” said Deepak Kumar, a garment shop owner in Lajpat Nagar.

Few shopkeepers in Janpath and Lajpat Nagar’s Central market claimed that they have installed the GST software in their systems, but haven’t learnt how to operate it. Some said that they are either planning to hire a computer operator or currently relying on tech-savvy family members to work with the computerised billing system.

A grocery shop owner near Mandi House said that he is selling goods without issuing payment receipts. “Had the tax system been so good then the rest of the countries would have already implemented it,” he claimed.