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Indian National Congress Advocates for Deferred GST Implementation

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram recently argued that the July 1 deadline for Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation was impractical and proposed a delay until October. He highlighted concerns that the current GST Bill was imperfect and would require amendments. Chidambaram emphasized that a rushed rollout would particularly disadvantage Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which might need more time to adapt to new online tax filing complexities.

📖 1 min read read🏷️ GST Implementation

Congress Seeks Postponement of GST Rollout

Updates from April 10, 2017

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram recently stated that the proposed July 1 implementation date for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was both unfeasible and ill-advised. He urged the government to delay its introduction until October. During his address in Delhi, Mr. Chidambaram criticized the current version of the GST Bill, suggesting it was flawed and would necessitate revisions within the following two years.

He further argued that a rushed GST implementation would adversely affect most Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across the nation. These businesses might not possess the same level of familiarity with complex online tax filing procedures as larger corporations, requiring additional time to adapt to the new taxation framework. This perspective was originally reported by The Indian Express.

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India?
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based tax levied on every value addition, replacing multiple indirect taxes in India.
When was GST officially implemented in India?
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was officially launched nationwide in India on July 1, 2017.
What are the primary benefits of implementing GST?
GST aims to simplify the indirect tax structure, reduce the cascading effect of taxes, broaden the tax base, and improve compliance, ultimately contributing to economic growth.
Which businesses are required to register under GST?
Businesses with an annual turnover exceeding a specified threshold (which varies by state and type of supply) are generally required to register for GST, along with certain other specific categories of taxpayers.
What are the main components of GST in India?
GST in India consists of three main components: Central GST (CGST) collected by the Central Government, State GST (SGST) collected by State Governments, and Integrated GST (IGST) for inter-state transactions, collected by the Centre.