GST Drive to Bring Thousands of Firms into Tax Net; Kerala GST Dept
"Our primary aim is to facilitate compliance and integrate businesses into the formal economy," stated a senior official from the State GST Department.
Kerala - GST - Dept - Taxscan
Kerala - GST - Dept - Taxscan
A statewide registration drive has been launched by the Kerala State Goods and Services Tax (GST) department with the goal of locating and bringing unregistered firms under the official tax system. The goal of the campaign, which was started this month, is to increase the revenue base, guarantee fair competition, and reduce tax evasion throughout the state.
The campaign is aimed at a broad range of companies, including as small merchants, service providers, and online retailers, whose yearly sales surpass the required registration barrier of ₹40 lakh for goods and ₹20 lakh for services, but which have not yet been included in the GST system. According to officials, a sizable number of these organizations are in operation, which results in revenue loss and unfair competition for taxpayers who comply.
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The department is using a multifaceted approach to meet its goals. To identify possible defaulters, advanced data analytics are being utilized to cross-reference data from many sources, such as power usage data, local body trade permits, and income tax records. At the same time, field verification teams have been sent out to physically survey industrial and commercial sectors in all 14 districts.
The department has issued a public notice urging eligible businesses to register voluntarily to avoid penal action. "Our primary aim is to facilitate compliance and integrate businesses into the formal economy," stated a senior official from the State GST Department. "This drive is as much about hand-holding as it is about enforcement. We have set up special help desks at our offices to assist merchants and service providers with the registration process."
Companies can register using www.gst.gov.in, the official GST portal. Those who do not comply once the drive is over, however, may be subject to severe consequences, which may include fines and prosecution under the GST Act. It is anticipated that the program will improve Kerala's overall fiscal health and greatly increase the state's GST collections.
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