GST will ease doing business: Dr.Murali Krishna

Bangalore, Jan.30: Goods and Services Tax (GST) will provide a single platform for taxation in all 29 States and six Union territories within the Indian Union. This was stated here on Wednesday (January 26) by Mr. Murali Krishna, Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Administration) while addressing a gathering of the city businessmen at a meeting called by the Indian Business Forum (IBF).  

He said, India currently ranks 130 among 180 nations of the world on the “Ease of Doing Business Index” as businesses have to wriggle through a host of taxes such as Central Sales Tax, Entertainment Tax, Value Added Tax, Entry Tax, Betting Tax, Luxury Tax, altogether seven different types of tax which vary across the states.

According to Mr. Krishna, who has been consistently mobilizing opinion in favour of GST by discussing it at various business forums, the GST will bring in transparency as well as better compliance.  He says there will be no statutory form or ‘C-form’ to be filled in by the businessmen. He said current taxation system was complex as businessmen were being asked to pay tax on taxes at various layers and levels.

He said new possibilities were emerging in the wake of implementation of GST. He visualized Madhya Pradesh emerging as a major warehousing centre in the nation as it was centrally located within the country and facilitated transit of goods in all directions with ease and at less cost of logistics.

He said GST will be a 15-digit number. Of these, ten numbers will be that of PAN no. Registration will be granted within three to four days of the application, even prior to inspection. There will be one return filing for all taxes.

Mr. Krishna said 98% of the commercial taxes in Karnataka was being paid digitally and it is expected that 90% of the refunded will be done through e-payment. 

Mr. Adoor B Shamsuddin, Additional Commissioner, and Dr.Ravi Prasad , Joint commissioner ,Commercial Tax responded to the queries of the audience. 

Mr.BT Manohar, Chairman, Tax Committee, FKCCI was the chief guest and Mr.CKP Azeez,Vice Chairman, IBF moderated the workshop. Indian Business Forum Director KM sidhique was present.