Made a genuine mistake post GST? Government to take a lenient approach

The government on Thursday announced that it will be lenient in enforcing penal laws for violations during the initial period of implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime that comes into effect from July 1.

“Our intention is to have a smooth landing of GST. Intention is not to harass everyone in the first month,” Revenue Secretary Hashmukh Adhia said at a Town Hall session on GST in New Delhi.

The government will be very very kind to genuine mistakes, Adhia said.

“There would be leniency but I cannot announce now. The rules provide that the GST Council can waive certain requirements for certain time,” he added.

The Secretary also said the Council can consider waiver of interest and penalty for six months.

Besides, GST will simplify the filing returns process and only one form a month needs to be filed by most taxpayers.

Of the 65 lakh taxpayers who have registered with GST, 70-80 percent are business-to-consumer (b2c) dealers who have to file just the total turnover return, Adhia said, adding that only business-to-business (b2b) entities have to give invoice-wise details.

The Council has allowed businesses a relaxation of time for the first two months (July-August) for filing their returns. These would also need to submit only a simple declaration initially, and would have time to furnish the exact “invoice-by-invoice data” later.

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