By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, DEC 17, 2017: WHILE justifying the early roll-out of the e-Way Bill, which was widely expected to be further deferred, Bihar Finance Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Modi, said that widespread tax evasion resulting in contracted revenue collections for the month of October, compelled the GST Council to review the decision. He also said the some payment has been released to the NIC which is executing the IT support system.

Further rationalising the decision, Mr Modi said that since most States do not have e-Way systems in place, it also encouraged large-scale tax evasion and abuse of the trust reposed in the taxpayers by the Council. The Council expects that more than 29 lakh intra-States and about 10 lakh inter-State e-Way Bills would be generated once it is rolled out across the country.

After the GSTN Review meeting and the progress made by Infosys, Mr Modi said that most glitches have been set right and the GSTN is now working fine. He also noted that when the GST was rolled out, more than 20 lakh traders had filed zero liability return in the July month and now, the number has gone down as above 70 per cent traders have begun to file returns with their tax liabilities.

On exports refund front he said that about 21000 exporters have claimed refund of over Rs 3000 Crore. The system has started worked and it would further reduce the pendency of refunds as well as complaints.