Assist taxpayers migrate to GSTN: CBEC tells staff

THE REVENUE department is stepping up its outreach programme, asking taxpayers to register with the GST Network by this month-end as only 34 per cent of the existing service tax assessees have so far migrated to the new payment portal.

There are a total of 80 lakh VAT, excise and service tax assessees.

While over 75 per cent of VAT and 73 per cent of the central excise assessees have switched to the GST Network (GSTN), the figure for service tax is a meagre 34 per cent of the existing assessees.

“We are fast approaching the last date for completion of migration i.e. April 30, 2017. I urge all zonal Chief Commissioners to take necessary steps to assist all existing taxpayers in their migration to the new regime,” CBEC Chairperson Vanaja N Sarna said in a letter to officers.

The zonal offices of the service tax department has started issuing advertisements in leading dailies, calling on the assessees to enrol and register with the GSTN immediately.

“Duty or tax credits under the existing laws cannot be carried forward in GST unless you enrol in the GST portal,” the department said, adding that provisional ID and password will be available for assessees on the ACES portal.

It also asked taxpayers not keen on migration to the GSTN to confirm so by logging into the portal. “Your provisional ID and password would be cancelled and this may deny your credit migration to the GST regime,” the department said. Out of the 80 lakh assessees, some may not require registration under GST as they are below the threshold of Rs 20 lakh for the levy.