Deputy Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha and Assam MP, Gaurav Gogoi has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, flagging the significant challenges faced by small businesses in complying with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regulations.
Based on the MP’s interaction with small businesses, traders, manufacturers and stakeholders, Gogoi noted the consistent issue faced in following the procedural requirements of GST.
The common concerns included keeping pace with the evolving regulations and frequent amendments to GST rules and procedures.
“The rules are further not easily accessible in regional languages, forcing the small traders to rely on intermediaries for routine compliances,” Gogoi stated.
The letter also raises concerns over the pendency of notices from the early years of GST implementation, the multiple tax slabs causing compliance burden and classification disputes, and the denial or blockage of Input Tax Credits (ITC) for purchasing businesses due to defaults by suppliers.
The Congress leader urged the Ministry to rationalise and simplify GST rates and consolidate amendments into fewer, well-publicised compliance cycles.
“It should be followed with the establishment of a time-bound mechanism to resolve legacy GST notices, protect the ITC of bona fide purchasers while recovering dues from defaulting suppliers, and setting up district-level GST Facilitation Centres in coordination with trade associations,” he stated.
“Furthermore, GST guidance should be made available in Assamese and other regional languages,” he said, adding that these measures would ease the compliance burden on small businesses, strengthen voluntary tax compliance, and build greater trust between taxpayers and the tax administration.
Assam mp gaurav gogoi moves union finance minister over gst regulations; challenges faced by small traders
