GST Is Not Just a Tax Reform But Is a Social Transformation

By Gopal Krishna Agarwal,

Initial anxiety apprehension with regard to GST rollout is largely owing to lack of awareness and information about the new tax regime. The Apprehension is with regard to its implementation. People are worried about how they will be registered, how they will be registered, how they will avail benefits of input tax credits, the anti profiteering clause and how the reduce taxes shall be passed on to the consumers. These are concern that are being addressed through processes of instructions and consultations. I myself am travelling to many places for awareness programmed. They will be many regional meetings with trade bodies and professionals to create awareness about GST.

This is not just an economic measure. It means a social reform by ushering in a more transparent, tax-compliant society. For the consumer, It would reduce prices of manufactured goods, for the government it would mean increase tax collection and fiscal consolidation and creation of a much simpler system to administer through GST network (GSTN).

The experience of demonetization shows that popular sentiment in India is for a transparent corruption free economy where opposition to a tax complaint regime is waning with the time.

Conceptually, no one has a problem with the GST. It does away with the multiplicity of tax structures subsuming 18 central, state and local taxes. It results in a reduction of indirect taxes for the consumer, It creates ease of doing business by online registration, filling of returns, and assessments. It is the only mechanism through which we can create one tax one market. We are looking at an objective, online transparent and compliant tax system.

For the businessmen who are already registered under excise or VAT, the migration is simple and online. Once registered they have to only capture transaction carefully at the point of supply with full details. Rest; returns, input tax credit etc. will be automatically extrapolated by the GSTN.

Traders etc., who’s turnover  is below 20 lakh are exempt under GST. Those traders and manufactured etc.