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Railway equipment-makers welcome 12% hike in GST

Railway equipment-makers welcome 12% hike in GST

Manufacturers of rail equipmenthave welcomed the GST Council’s decision to raise GST on rail equipment such as wagons, coaches and rolling stock to 12 per cent from 5 per cent. Metro rail coach-makers are also set to get a similar push.

The move will increase the competitiveness of the products made in India, said Alstom, Bombardier, Wabtec, and other rail-equipment makers.

This was a pending demand of railway wagon, coach and engine manufacturers and had been raised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Recently, Wabtec, the company that acquired GE Transportation, had explained that input components attract a tax of 12-18-28 per cent. This creates a situation when there is higher tax on inputs and lower tax on output products.

This led to an increase in cost, which had to be borne by the manufacturers to the extent of the gap between the taxes.

“The announcement to increase GST rate from 5 to 12 per cent on rail goods reinstates the government’s intention to bring the (Indian rail) industry back on track,” said Anand Chidambaram, Chairman, Rail Transportation and Equipment Division, Confederation of Indian Industry.

Boost to Make in India

Alain Spohr, Managing Director, India and South Asia, Alstom, said the move will provide a huge impetus to global organisations such as Alstom to continue supporting the Make in India programme.

Sudhir Rao, Managing Director, India, Bombardier Transportation, said the GST Council’s move will “remedy the inverted duty structure that has burdened rolling stock manufacturers for over two years, besides resulting in lower prices to various metro companies across the country; this will also level the playing field for companies such as Bombardier, who have invested heavily in India to provide world-class railway systems and products”. Sandeep Selot , Managing Director, GE Diesel Locomotives Pvt Ltd, said the GST move will boost the Make in India initiative, while the reduction in corporate tax will go a long way in competing in global markets.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also announced a cut in GST on marine fuel from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.

She said that 0.5 per cent FO has been added, a move which seems to indicate low sulphur fuel oil will also be charged at 5 per cent GST, although shipping industry players are awaiting further clarity.

Source: The-Hindu-Business-Line

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Industry satisfied with GST implementation: CII survey

Industry satisfied with GST implementation: CII survey

Indian industry considers the Goods and Services Tax (GST)a step in the right direction CII GST Survey 2018and a majority are satisfied with its overall implementation, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said on Sunday citing its own survey.

Releasing a survey of over 200 businesses on the first anniversary of the roll out of
of GST, CII said that 83 per cent of respondents saw the new indirect tax regime a step in the right direction and 65 percent are satisfied with its overall implementation, despite some teething problems.

“A year into the implementation of GST, there is great optimism among businesses about the impact of GST on the economy. Satisfaction was high across the spectrum on GST implementation issues as well,” a CII statement said.

GST implementation led to increased efficiency for businesses by reducing their transportation time, on account of absence of state barriers, the report said.

“GST has had a moderating impact on retail price inflation, which may have risen to higher level without the new tax regime,” CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said in the statement.

One-third of the survey respondents witnessed a downward movement in the wholesale prices of their supplies, while nearly 30 percent saw a fall in the retail prices of supplies. A majority of respondents witnessed no change in their supply prices.

“The survey also indicates a positive impact of GST on employment as well as on the demand for goods and services. Given that it is the biggest tax reform of independent India, one must compliment the government on its efficient and transparent administration despite some ‘teething problems’,” Banerjee said.

On product coverage under GST, a majority of 87 per cent of respondents said the products manufactured by them have been listed or classified under GST, and were largely satisfied with the tax rates and the exemptions provided on the supply of goods and services.

According to the report, many businesses reported satisfaction with the process for payment of taxes and interest under the GST and felt that the maintenance of records is also simpler.

Respondents also showed a high level of comfort with the provisions on valuation.

“The survey has confirmed the fact that filing of returns and payment of tax is much easier and simpler under the new regime, as also the maintenance of records,” Banerjee said.

Regarding demand, 78 per cent of the respondents witnessed either an increase, or no change, in the demand for goods post-GST implementation, while the same figure was 90 per cent for services.

The survey was based on responses from over 200 firms of different sizes, with 46 per cent having an annual turnover of over Rs 100 crore, 29 per cent with a turnover between Rs 5 crore to Rs 100 crore, 11 percent have a turnover of between Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 5 crore and 13 per cent are with a turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore.

At an event here earlier on Sunday, Finance Secretary Hasmukh announced that the GST revenue collection in June at Rs 95,610 crore was higher than the average monthly collection of Rs 89,885 crore during 2017-18.

The collection in May amounted to Rs 94,016 crore.

Union Budget 2018: CII seeks easier GST compliance procedures in Budget

Union Budget 2018: CII seeks easier GST compliance procedures in Budget

GST- union budget-2018-19

Ahead of the Budget, industry chamber CII today sought redressal of issues related to GST compliance including filing of returns, matching of invoices and getting timely input tax credit.

According to the chamber, simplification of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliances would result in higher number of returns filed, increased collection of revenues, and easier working capital management by trade and industry. The GST Network (GSTN) functioning and return filing formats could be tweaked to ensure acceptance of invoices, it added.

CII also stressed upon the need for designing a fool- proof and effective return filing system where seamless and speedier input tax credit (ITC) can be availed by the recipient, as against the current requirement of filing three GST returns.

The landmark tax reform was introduced on July 1, 2017.

In a statement, CII said it is in agreement with the proposals presented to the GST Council by Nandan Nilekani, former chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India and chairman, Infosys.

“If the buyer accepts supplier invoices on the GST System, this automatically determines the input tax credit. In the proposed model, there will be no mismatch or reversal,” the statement quoted Nilekani as saying.

“Currently, the buyer is responsible for ensuring tax payment by suppliers to avail ITC. Mismatch in invoices due to filing errors leads to funds being held up. A successful model should align with the natural business process,” Nilekani added.

He further suggested that the proposed process will offer multiple channels for upload and acceptance of invoices and filing of returns.

Small taxpayers with no automated accounting systems can view and accept pending invoices directly on the portal, and SME taxpayers with some level of automation can use Excel- based offline tool to download, compare and accept pending invoices.

CII had earlier recommended similar measures for easier invoice matching at the time of initial release of the Model GST law.

“The recommendations made by Nilekani seem practical and are expected to be business friendly for the successful transition to GST,” CII said. It also suggested trials and tests before introduction of such a system.

Further, to keep the system simple, it is also suggested that uploading of invoices with total amount with GSTN of recipient should suffice instead of invoices at line-item level.

Acceptance of invoices by buyers and suppliers as per normal business process should be used for ITC payment. This will pave the way for smoother implementation of GST and simplification of return filing system, which it turn will enhance tax revenues towards a successful Good and Simple Tax, the industry body said.

Source :  Money Control
‘Attempts to derail’ GST have failed: Arun Jaitley

‘Attempts to derail’ GST have failed: Arun Jaitley

Jaitley was responding to a question on the biggest challenges for GST during a conversation with Dan Schulman, president and CEO of Paypal and Chandrajit Banerjee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

GST : Arun jaitley

 

Despite “attempts to derail” the recently introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST), the states are adopting the new regime at a fast pace, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

Jaitley was responding to a question on the biggest challenges for GST during a conversation with Dan Schulman, president and CEO of Paypal and Chandrajit Banerjee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

At the event jointly organised by CII and US India Business Council (USIBC) in New York, Jaitley said global integration of Indian economy is happening at a time when other economies are becoming more protectionist.

Asserting that India is now a better place to do business with because of the series of steps being taken by the government in the last three years, Jaitley said procedures have been simplified.

Despite “attempts to derail” the recently introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST), the states are adopting the new regime at a fast pace, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

Jaitley was responding to a question on the biggest challenges for GST during a conversation with Dan Schulman, president and CEO of Paypal and Chandrajit Banerjee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

At the event jointly organised by CII and US India Business Council (USIBC) in New York, Jaitley said global integration of Indian economy is happening at a time when other economies are becoming more protectionist.

Asserting that India is now a better place to do business with because of the series of steps being taken by the government in the last three years, Jaitley said procedures have been simplified.

Now as much as 95 per cent of the investments are through automatic route, and foreign investment promotion board has been abolished, he noted.

Today, 99 per cent of tax queries are addressed online, he said.

Now States are being ranked on ease of doing business, he told the audience here.

India is now capable of taking big decisions and implementing them at a large-scale, the union finance minister said.

As many as 250 highways projects are under construction. India is now having surplus power and capacity of Indian ports have been expanded, he said.

Responding to a question on digital payments, he said the younger generation is taking on to modern payment methods in a big way.

Further, all government benefits are linked directly to bank accounts. The government has introduced low cost insurance policies to incentivise the bank holders, he said.

Jaitley who arrived early in the day in New York also addressed US investors on recent economic reform initiatives.

He is slated to address the Columbia University students today. The finance minister is here in US to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Also read: Government may reduce items in 28% GST slab

But before arriving in Washington DC for the annual IMF and World Bank meetings, he would travel to Boston to address the students of the Harvard University and interact with the US business community in Boston.

During his three day stay at Washington, the finance minister will hold a bilateral meeting with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

He will also participate in an interactive seminar organised by FICCI on — “India Opportunity Conference” and attend the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Working Dinner on October 12.

 Now as much as 95 per cent of the investments are through automatic route, and foreign investment promotion board has been abolished, he noted.

Today, 99 per cent of tax queries are addressed online, he said.

Now States are being ranked on ease of doing business, he told the audience here.

India is now capable of taking big decisions and implementing them at a large-scale, the union finance minister said.

Also read: GST Council eases rules, cuts rates: Check out the new tax rates for about 42 items in 3 tables

As many as 250 highways projects are under construction. India is now having surplus power and capacity of Indian ports have been expanded, he said.

Responding to a question on digital payments, he said the younger generation is taking on to modern payment methods in a big way.

Further, all government benefits are linked directly to bank accounts. The government has introduced low cost insurance policies to incentivise the bank holders, he said.

Jaitley who arrived early in the day in New York also addressed US investors on recent economic reform initiatives.

He is slated to address the Columbia University students today. The finance minister is here in US to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

But before arriving in Washington DC for the annual IMF and World Bank meetings, he would travel to Boston to address the students of the Harvard University and interact with the US business community in Boston.

During his three day stay at Washington, the finance minister will hold a bilateral meeting with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

He will also participate in an interactive seminar organised by FICCI on — “India Opportunity Conference” and attend the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Working Dinner on October 12.


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Source: Money Control
Extend GST return deadline by 2 months to resolve issues: CII

Extend GST return deadline by 2 months to resolve issues: CII

GST : CII

Industry chamber CII said on Sunday that in view of certain pending issues, the deadline for filing Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns should be further extended by up to a couple of months.

“In view of the difficulties of online filing, CII suggested that the due dates for filing GSTR-1, GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 should be deferred for another month or two. This will stabilise the system,” the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said in a release.

“The finance ministry has taken cognisance of the initial glitches being faced in online filing of invoices and extended dates for GST returns. CII has now requested for further extension to resolve certain system issues,” it said.


GST Ready Invoicing Software – Generate GST Compliant Invoice

Last month, the government announced a five-day extension for filing the GSTR-3B form till August 25, after the GSTN return filing portal was hit by a technical glitch and stopped functioning, a day ahead of the last date for filing.

Technical issues again earlier this month forced the government to extend the deadline for filing the GST sales return — GSTR-1 — for another five days till September 10.

CII suggested certain changes to the return filing procedure so as to streamline the system further.

“All modules of GSTN should be activated or enabled to amend core fields in registration to amend particulars of ‘principal place of business’ or to declare ‘additional place of business’ or file refunds,” CII said.

“Further suggested that GSTR-3B should have provision for rounding off Input Tax Credit to nearest rupee. This will match output tax liability which is rounded off, and be accepted in the system,” it added.

The industry body also suggested there should be no penal action by the authorities in the initial six months of the GST launch.

CII also pointed to an anomaly in the Tran1 form that is filed for July, the month goods & service tax was launched, to carry forward the closing balance of credits of June 2017,

Accordingly, Tran1 calculates the liability of pending forms — “however, in many cases, the carry forwarded amount has been calculated in negative figure”, the statement said.

“CII suggests that the system response should be enhanced to allow download, preview details, and take prints for reconciliation before submission,” it added.


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Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/gst-returns-deadline-cii-seeks-extension-by-2-months-to-resolve-issues/story-zuMnPCdswtnaMBqzrIunkI.html