Need to take speedy action to implement GST: CII

01 Jul 2013 Evaluate

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has asked for a speedy action to implement the proposed Goods and Service Tax (GST), which is expected to bring many key benefits to the Indian economy, as well as to producers and consumers, by imparting efficiency to the indirect tax system. The industry body has said that the proposed tax law would help in increasing tax base, curbing evasion and raising compliance for both indirect and direct taxes. CII Chairman Adi Godrej has said that GST has the potential to add as much as 1.5-2.0 percentage points to GDP growth rate and such a measure is imperative for the country, given the current slowdown of the Indian economy. ‘GST is one of the most awaited reform measures on the table, and the industry hopes that political developments would not overshadow its progress’ he added.

The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers panel has met three times in recent months and there have been developments on issues like compensation to states for the Central Sales Tax, exemption list and the Dispute Settlement Authority.  However, in a recent political development Sushil Modi, who had chaired the Committee ceased to head the panel following his resignation as Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Bihar in the wake of the BJP-JD (U) split and now the panel is headless.

The GST amendment bill has been introduced in parliament and is being scrutinised by its Standing Committee on Finance. On the high combined central GST and state GST rates, the CII has suggested that the combined tax rates should not exceed 18 percent and that exemptions to the GST coverage should be minimal. 

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