Ministers to clear GST doubts after roll-out

They will travel across the country, address industry chambers and traders’ groups

Worried that confusion might hit the roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST), members of the Union council of minister would travel across the country from July 2 to 7.

The new indirect tax regime would be rolled out from July 1. The ministers would meet stakeholders — especially industry chambers and traders’ groups — to clear doubts.

The three-week period starting International Yoga Day (June 21) is likely to be a stressful one for the ministers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to be in Lucknow to mark the day. Other ministers have been asked to visit state capitals or their constituencies to perform yoga. If you have not been able to register on the GST Network within the deadline ending on Thursday, do not panic! There's one more chance coming your way as the registration for existing excise, service tax and VAT payers will reopen on June 25.

There are about 8 million excise, service tax and VAT assessees as present, of which 6.44 million have already migrated to the portal of GST Network, the company readying the IT backbone for GST regime.

The window for migration to the GSTN, which opened on June 1, will close tomorrow and during the fortnight, 0.44 million taxpayers have enrolled taking the total to 6.44 million. However,

On June 25, ministers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders will mark the “AntiEmergency Day”. On June 26, 1975, the Indira Gandhiled Congress government had imposed Emergency. This year, the Anti-Emergency Day will be marked a day in advance since Eid is on June this is 80 per cent of the existing assessees.

GSTN Chairman Navin Kumar sought to allay concerns of businesses who have not registered so far saying that the tax department is "obligated" to provide them smooth transition into the GST regime but traders should also come forward and complete the registration process by filing up the application form. "Whosoever wants to do business under GST and wants to migrate, we will provide facility to them even after June 15.

From June 25, anyone who is left out now, can come and file information and migrate to GST," Kumar told PTI. Registration with the GSTN is necessary for doing business in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as businesses will have to upload monthly sales data as well as file return forms on this portal. 26 or 27.

In recent times, the Opposition has attacked the Modi government of having imposed an “undeclared Emergency” in the country. Sources said this initiative would allow the BJP to point out to how several Opposition parties were aligning with the Congress. Politics apart, the real concern of the government remains the GST rollout. Its leadership wants MPs and ministers to reach out to the business community to allay fears.

The government and the BJP are preparing “talking points” for ministers and party leaders on the GST. Ministers are also likely to attend sessions by experts before they head out to meet the stakeholders.