Tax rates under GST will not be revised unless there is an anomaly: CBEC chief

The government on Wednesday said that tax rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will not be revised unless there is an anomaly, but promised to go slow on enforcement actions in the first six months on genuine mistakes.

“The issue has snowballed…The textile sector is taxed for the first time. So anybody who comes into the net would feel the pinch,” said Vanaja N Sarna, Chairperson, Central Board of Excise and Customs, at a CII event. She said the CBEC has received representations from textile traders and is looking into their demands.

“Unless there is something not fully justified or there is an anomaly, I don’t think there is a reason to look at any rates at the moment,” she said, adding that many other sectors have also sought correction in rates.

Textile traders in Surat have called off their strike against the five per cent GST on fabric and yarns after the Centre promised to look into their demands.

Meanwhile, giving industry time to settle down into the new levy, the CBEC chief promised that the taxmen will not strictly enforce the GST laws for the first three to six months.

“CBEC has enforcement authorities and I have specifically asked them to go slow for the first three to six months. I don’t want small cases to be made,” Sarna said.

Pointing out that the CBEC has also been handholding traders and explaining all issues relating to the new levy to them, she said, “I’m definitely not looking at any hard line attitude to start with, we would want it to settle down.”

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