Dimapur, September 18 (MExN): The Nagaland State Screening Committee has been constituted under the GST ACT, 2017 with K. Ashi Khieya, Commissioner, Central GST Commissionerate, Dimapur and Mhathung Murry, Additional Commissioner, State Taxes, Nagaland as its members.
GC Paul, Assistant Commissioner has informed in a press release any consumer or organization can file complaint against the errant trader for not passing on the benefit of reduction in GST rates or the benefit of input tax credit with proper evidences in prescribed format as available on the website www.gstcouncil.gov.in
GST has been introduced by subsuming multiple Central and State Indirect Taxes. One of the main features of the GST is that it removes the cascading effect i.e. tax on tax on the sale of Goods and Services. Removal of the cascading effect will directly impact the cost of goods. Since tax on tax is eliminated in the new regime, the cost of goods decreases. T
he Government has reduced the GST rates on a large number of goods and services on the recommendation of the GST Council wef 27.07.2018. List of goods and services are available at URLs: goo.gl/9kTw7y and goo.gl/hvA6iy, respectively.
The suppliers of goods and services are expected to pass the benefit of any reduction in the rate of GST on such supplied or benefit of input tax credit to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices. Any willful action of not passing such benefits to the recipient amounts to “Profiteering.”
For the purpose, the GST Act, 2017 provides an anti-profiteering mechanism with a 3-tier structure for the investigation and adjudication of the complaints regarding profiteering: National Anti-profiteering Authority; Directorate General of Anti-profiteering; State-level Screening Committee and Standing Committee.
“The sole purpose of this institutional mechanism under the GST law is to check the unfair profit-making by the trading community by ensuring that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on the goods and services or the benefit of input tax credit passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of commensurate reduction in the process by the suppliers. It would ensure that the traders are not realizing unfair profit by charging high prices from the consumers in the name of GST. The duty of this authority is to examine and check such profiteering practices and recommend punitive actions including cancellation of Registration,” the press release added.
Complaints can be submitted either by visiting any of the offices located at Agarwal Tower, Near City Tower, Dimapur or State Taxes, near DC Court, Dimapur or through mail at emails id: antiprofiteering.gst.nagaland@gmail.com
