Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in Kerala for July (as per August returns) have printed in 15.75 per cent less than the comparable figure for the same month last year. But officials are optimistic of a turnaround sooner rather than later.

Collections for July 2016 under the VAT regime had totalled to ₹1486.55 crore while, a year down the line, they added up to ₹1252.38 crore, broken down into ₹801.38 crore under SGST and ₹451 crore under IGST. State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has said that he expected revenues to look up by at least 20 per cent, given the fact that Kerala is a consumer state and GST is a destination tax.

Optimism BS Thyagarajababu, Deputy Commissioner of State Tax, told BusinessLine that the State Goods & Services Tax Department expected collections to rev up with time.

An estimated 78.39 per cent of the total number of registered dealers under the VAT and Luxury Tax Act has migrated to GST as on date, he said.

During the pre-GST period, there were 2,65,412 registered dealers. According to latest statistics, 2,08,063 dealers have migrated to GST. Those who have not yet migrated, can file fresh registration application and update the pre-GST registration number.

Since dealers in Kerala have been familiar with e-filing of returns under the VAT regime right from 2009 onwards, they have had no issues filing the returns other than what Thyagarajababu described as ‘some technical issues.’

‘Initial glitches’ He recalled that the time limit for filing the first return under GST for the month of July, 2017, has been extended up to October 10 in view of the fact that the whole process is executed online and the ‘initial glitches’ needed to be dealt with.

The GST Department had conducted regular workshops for officials, tax practitioners and trade communities ahead of implementation of the GST, Thyagarajababu said.

GST Facilitation Centres were established in each district to ensure troubleshooting and dissemination of authentic information to stakeholders. These facilitation centres function from 8 am to 8 pm.

Sufficient staff has been deployed to man these centres which are provided with mobile as well as landline connectivity. Stakeholders can raise any issues through e-mail in postgstquestions@gov.in.

All information pertaining to GST is available in the official portal of Central Board of Excise & Customs at www.cbec.gov.in, and official website Kerala SGST Department, at www.keralataxes.gov.in.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) and replies to them have been published in the local vernacular., Thyagarajababu said.

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