One year GST: Tax has brought growth, simplicity, says PM Narendra Modi

One year of GST: Hailing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a tool that has brought growth, simplicity and transparency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, "It is boosting formalisation, enhancing productivity, furthering 'Ease of Doing Business', benefitting small and medium enterprises." The prime minister termed it as a "festival of honesty" which has ended 'inspector raj' in the country. 
 
In a series of tweets, the prime minister also greeted doctors on Doctors' Day, saying "Theirs is one of the noblest professions of humanity. It is gladdening to see Indian doctors distinguishing themselves globally and being at the forefront of pathbreaking research and innovation." 
 
Also wishing Chartered Accountants on CA Day, he tweeted, "Widely recognised for their work and emphasis on corporate governance, the CA community has a vital role in nation building. May the CA community keep contributing towards India's growth." 
 
Recently, in his Mann Ki Baat radio address, the prime minister had described the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a fine example of cooperative federalism.
 
On the first anniversary of the GST regime, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that a telephone helpline number will be started soon, where consumers can report against those traders who evade tax by not issuing purchase bill.
 
According to the Finance Ministry`s tweets on Saturday, Goyal appealed to consumers to demand for bills, whenever they buy any goods or services which would help in reducing the rates under the GST.
 
Meanwhile, the Congress described the new tax regime as a "Grossly Scary Tax" and said the promise of a "single tax GST" still remains a pipe dream. The main party on Saturday said that multiple returns, multiple rules and multiple tax slabs have made life of an ordinary trader "nightmarish".
 
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had tweeted, "GST completes 1 Year at 12 O`Clock tonight, it remains `Grossly Scary Tax` for millions of traders, shopkeepers & businessmen. No wonder GST`s more popular description is `Gabbar Singh Tax` than `Genuine and Simple Tax` that it was meant to be." 
 
Surjewala said: "To determine GST itself is frightening. Steps- 1) Every taxpayer has to search a `Code Book` running into 438 pages with 18,036 categories 2. Out of 7 tax slabs, applicable slab has to be found 3. Add all state cesses 4. Add supply chain incentives 5. Calculate GST."
 
"Even after one year, only GSTR-1 form exists. Government failed to notify GSTR-2 and GSTR-3. Till that happens, bills won`t match and refund would remain a nightmare. Also, GSTR-3B is a temporary form. How can government continue to stretch it at all?" he asked.

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"Out of 111 lakh registered businesses under GST, not more then 50 per cent have been able to file GST returns," Surjewala added in his tweet.