Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has directed the officials concerned to organize awareness conferences all over the State to educate people and businessmen on the newly introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Centre.
The Chief Minister wanted these conferences to be held on July 5, 6 and 7 in 91 Circles under the Commercial Taxes department and the officials clarify doubts among the traders, businessmen and general people on the GST and also inform them on how the GST is implemented. How much tax one should pay on what turnover and so on, he added.
The CM held a review meeting on the effects of GST here on Monday at Pragathi Bhavan. TRS Parliamentary Party leader K Keshav Rao, Govt Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary SP Singh, senior officials S Narsing Rao, Ramakrishna Rao, Anil Kumar, Somesh Kumar and officials from the Commercial Taxes department participated.
“The Centre has decided to implement the GST through out the country. All states have to implement it and we are also implementing it. There are divergent opinions on whether implementation of the GST is profitable or not and who will suffer the loss? There is a need to get a clarification in these issues. There are some plus points on the implementation of the GST. Businessmen whose annual turn over is below Rs 20 Lakh need not pay any tax. For those having turnover between Rs 20 to Rs 75 Lakh, the tax is only one percent. This is a positive aspect. All small business and trades will have turn over below Rs 20 Lakh, and moderate businessmen will pay only one per cent tax. This aspect should be informed to the people and awareness should be created on the actual form of the GST and remove fears and apprehensions. Suggest the small traders how to do their business. Chief Secretary, Commercial taxes Commissioner, Finance Secretary and other senior officials should personally go and clarify the doubts. Prepare a comprehensive note on the GST and circulate,” the CM instructed.
The review meeting also deliberated on will the GST is good for the State, is it profitable or loss? Will it burden the people with tax and what will be its affect on the state’s revenue? The officials pointed out that since Petrol, Diesel and excise are exempted from the GST; the GST will have no adverse affect on 50 per cent of the state’s revenue. And in the rest 50 per cent, the government will get back 50 per cent of the revenue back. Since the Centre has to give the State its share in the increased revenues, the state’s allocation in the Centre’s funds will increase. On an average, about Rs 2,000 to 3,000 Crore more income, the state will get per year. However, to understand the GST affect, one has to wait for the third quarter in December, the officials explained to the CM.
“Fundamentally it appears that by GST, the state has something gain not much to lose. Measures to be taken so that small businessmen are not at loss and ensure that it has no adverse affect on their lives. GST will be very useful in catching the tax evaders. This will generate more revenues which can be used for the development and welfare schemes in the State,” the CM observed. (NSS)