GST 4th anniversary: Revenue increases, glitches continue

Aurangabad, July 1:

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced across the country on July 1, 2017. The GST system has closed all loopholes of tax evasion, making it easier for the taxpayer to bring all the taxes including VAT into a single system. Since the introduction of GST, there has been a huge increase in state and central government revenue. The Aurangabad division also generates huge revenue through state and central GST. This revenue is contributing to the development of the country.

Before the introduction of GST, five to seven different taxes had to be paid by the taxpayers. But after the advent of GST, all the taxes were combined into GST. The finance department tried to facilitate the new tax system. The SGST and CGST offices in the Aurangabad division have successfully implemented the new tax system, working round the clock. The officials tried to resolve all the technical issues by holding workshops and camps of traders and dealers at villages and tehsils. Various slabs of GST were explained to the trading community. In addition, changes in GST from time to time are being communicated by the officials to the taxpayers. As a result, Aurangabad division is in the forefront in revenue generation and resolving the problems of traders.

44,915 dealers under GST

After the implementation of GST, every employee of the SGST adopted this new-system and successfully passed it on to the taxpayer. The officials reached out to the traders in Aurangabad, Jalna, and Beed districts of Aurangabad division and registered them under the new tax regime. The department has also taken the lead in recovery of pending dues. Aurangabad division was given a target of Rs 2,277.28 crore in the year 2020-21. Out of which Rs 1,702 crore revenue has been collected. It includes VAT, CST, SCPT and business tax. There are 44,915 dealers in the three districts regularly paying GST. According to the SGST officials, there are 7,304 composition dealers (composite) and 3,326 regular dealers in GST. The state has received revenue of Rs 664 crore from liquor companies across the state, the officials said.

Problems continue for traders

Despite the government claiming that the GSTN portal has been streamlined, the trading community still faces several issues while filing their tax returns. The traders and Chartered Accountants have long been demanding to streamline the technical glitches that are encountered during updating tax slabs and filing returns. However, the issues remain unresolved.

GST collected in past years:

Year Yearly revenue (in crores)

2016-17 Rs 2208.52

2017-18 Rs 1773.14

2018-19 Rs 3011.21

2019-20 Rs 2946.94

2020-21 Rs 233.08

2021-22 Rs 605.06