1 Year of GST: ‘Grossly Scary Tax’, says Congress party

As the Goods and Services Tax (GST) roll-out completes one year on July 1, the Congress on Saturday described it as a "Grossly Scary Tax" and said the promise of a "single tax GST" still remains a pipe dream. The party also said multiple returns, multiple rules and multiple tax slabs have made life of an ordinary trader "nightmarish".

"GST completes 1 year at 12 o'clock tonight, it remains ‘Grossly Scary Tax' for millions of traders, shopkeepers and businessmen. No wonder GST's more popular description is ‘Gabbar Singh Tax' than ‘Genuine and Simple Tax' that it was meant to be," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Twitter.

"A 'Single Tax GST', as promised, remains a ‘pipe dream'. Multiple returns, multiple rules and multiple tax slabs have made the life of an ordinary trader nightmarish," he added.

Surjewala said: "To determine GST itself is frightening. Steps- 1) Every taxpayer has to search a ‘Code Book' running into 438 pages with 18,036 categories 2. Out of 7 tax slabs, applicable slab has to be found 3. Add all state cesses 4. Add supply chain incentives 5. Calculate GST."

"Even after one year, only GSTR-1 form exists. Government failed to notify GSTR-2 and GSTR-3. Till that happens, bills won't match and refund would remain a nightmare. Also, GSTR-3B is a temporary form. How can government continue to stretch it at all?" he asked.

The Congress leader also said: "Out of 111 lakh registered businesses under GST, not more than 50% have been able to file GST returns."

"Ambiguity, complication, deficiency of IT infrastructure remains a major challenge. GST collections remain at an average of 90,000 crore against the target of 1,25,000 crore per month," he tweeted.

Inputs by NH Web Desk