Glitch-ridden GST was due to lack of time: GSTN CEO
new delhi — The IT backbone of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was not given enough time to prepare a system to the satisfaction of the GSTN which led to the glitches in the implementation of the new tax regime, a top official said.
However, he added, the system had now stabilised and the policymakers had also acknowledged the need to give enough time to the GSTN to implement any further changes to the system and that there should be smooth sailing in the days ahead despite major changes in the offing like complete overhaul of the return filing system.
From day one of GST rollout on July 1 last year, glitches and teething problems were experienced which were magnified when the e-Way Bill was rolled out on February 1.
Goods and Services Tax Network [GSTN] CEO Prakash Kumar said that the original date for rollout of e-Way Bill was April 1 and preponing it to February “on a whim” was a mistake.
“If the date was April 1, we should have adhered to April 1. Required time was not given and it is known. Everyone knows that,” Kumar said.
“The Group of Ministers [GoM] on Information Technology examined it and said it should not have been done. They said go back to April 1. Not only that, [GOM chairman] Sushil Modi said it should be implemented in a staggered manner — give time to both the system as well as the users,” he said.
Even before the e-Way Bill, the system was marred with glitches which Kumar attributes to lack of time. —