Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : GST Day, 2020, or third anniversary of introduction of GST, was observed by Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) and all its field offices across India on July 1, 2020. GST has been instrumental in breaking barriers to build an AatmaNirbhar Bharat and taking forward the motto of ‘One Nation One Tax One Market’. Considering the COVID pandemic, most of the interactions with stakeholders were made in virtual mode on digital platforms to mark this day.
Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her message on GST Day, 2020, highlighted that GST has come a long way in simplifying the GST Tax Administration based on feedback from stakeholders. However, more efforts are required to ease tax compliances.
Key points of FM’s message were: Focus on the Prime Minister’s clarion call for AatmaNirbhar Bharat;: Strive to make the tax administration simple for taxpayers ensuring Ease of Doing Business in essence; Foresee the issues facing the business community and proactively address them.
The Finance Minister congratulated CBIC officers for the commendable job done by them during these testing times of COVID 19 and went beyond call of duty to help and handhold taxpayers. She also appreciated the record amount of refund disbursed to ease cash flow of taxpayers during this period, according to a PIB release.
Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur, in his message, added that return filing process needs to be made easier and processing of return and allowing Input Tax Credit needs to be made faster. Thakur appreciated the hardwork of CBIC officers during lockdown period and efficient use of IT platforms to process GST refunds through remote access which in turn provided much liquidity to the taxpayers. Social activities by CBIC field officers of helping those in distress during COVID 19 was also applauded.
Chairman CBIC M Ajit Kumar, in a virtual departmental GST Day programme, emphasised on assisting taxpayers and reaching out to them to resolve their grievances and honor the FM’s message of Ease of Doing Business in its true essence.