The tenth meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Bihar Minister Sushil Kumar Modi was held on Saturday to discuss the technical glitches in the GSTN portal. The major agenda of the meeting was to review the working of the network.
“We have directed Infosys to design new forms as suggested by the GST Council to simplify filing returns by traders on the network,” Modi told reporters here after the
After the meeting, the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has directed its software vendor Infosys to design new forms for filing returns by traders.
“We plan to roll out the new simplified GST returns form in the next 4-6 months for the benefit of dealers or traders paying the indirect tax through the network,” said Modi, who is also Bihar Deputy Chief Minister.
The GSTN wants a return format which will enable the traders to file their annual returns with details of sales, purchases and input tax credit benefits in a consolidated format.
Returns filed in the new forms (GSTR 9 and GSTR-3C) will enable the tax authority to detect evasion and false claims under the GST unlike in the current forms (GSTR 3B and GSTR-1), which do not have a provision to match invoices.
“Infosys is developing a mobile app for field staff (tax inspectors) to verify accounts of traders during spot inspection and file reports with photos and location,” said Modi.
The GoM has identified 18 companies across the country to develop a uniform accounting software for the smaller tax payers.
“The new software will be given to all small traders to ensure uniformity in filing GST returns,” said Modi.
Modi further said that after the procedural reform, the revenue figures increased and the revenue deficit of states had declined to 13 per cent from 17 per cent earlier.
“We are hoping the combined revenue will soon touch Rs 1.3 lakh crore per month with greater compliance by all the stakeholders,” reiterated Modi.
The data and business intelligence by the network is helping the Council to track tax evasions and warn dealers filing fake invoices.
The GST Council’s 30th meeting will be held on September 28 in New Delhi through video conferencing.
“We have issued 23.61 crore e-way bills since April 1. Till September 17, 11.38 crore inter-state bills were generated, accounting for 48 per cent of total bills,” added Modi.
According to returns filed so far, 92 per cent of taxpayers have turnover below Rs 5 crore and 20 per cent have filed nil returns.
