FM Sitharaman encourages top GST officials to utilize technology to address system loopholes
New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged enforcement chiefs of state and Central GST formations to harness technology for improving taxpayer services and plugging system loopholes. At the National Conference of Enforcement Chiefs, she emphasized on sharing best practices and seamless coordination across States for national interest.
Sitharaman hailed the efforts of GST formations in enhancing the tax system’s transparency and efficiency since 2017. She highlighted the importance of regular meetings among enforcement chiefs to discuss obstacles, exchange successful strategies, and strengthen the tax infrastructure harmoniously.
The Finance Minister stressed on the need for clarity on classification issues and acknowledged the progress made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in improving system effectiveness. Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra emphasized the vital role of enforcement in ensuring the success of the GST system and outlined key priorities including targeting high-risk areas and combatting tax evasion.
CBIC Chairman, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, highlighted the detrimental impact of fake entities, GST evasion, and the need for strong data analytics and technology to stay ahead of perpetrators. Various presentations were made during the conference, showcasing the crackdown on fake registrations and bogus billing resulting in the detection of ITC tax evasion worth Rs. 49,623 crore involving 31,512 fake firms.
The conference emphasized the importance of regular experience sharing and decided to conduct the National Conference of Enforcement Chiefs of State and Central GST Formations bi-annually moving forward. The event aimed at enhancing collaboration, strengthening enforcement, and ensuring fair competition in the tax system.
