PANAJI
These issues, if unresolved, will come in the way of filing the first return and will make the whole process cumbersome.
Although, the central government has come up with an easier form to fill the first GST return, but still, this form doesn't have provisions for few items, which will make things tough for tax-payers.
Sandip Bhandare, noted chartered accountant, said, "The one-page form, which will have to be submitted while filing GST return called GSTR3B, doesn't have provisions for exporters to take input-tax-credit."
Businesses are required to file a simplified provisional tax return for GST by August 20. Detailed forms will have to be filled at a later date to file the complete GST return.
If exporters can't take credit for input tax by August 20, they will have to wait for a later date to do so.
Rajendra Narvekar, president, All Goa Tax Practitioners' Association, said, "The form GSTR3B doesn't have provision for taking input-tax-credit for stocks, which businesses had on June 30."
He continued, "Even in July, when GST had rolled out, many traders were still billing considering taxes prevailing in earlier tax regime like VAT etc. This was because they were unable to understand GST. In many cases, they didn't have login ID on the GST network. It will be really tough for these traders to file GST return for July since they have not even done billing for July based on GST."
There are several other issues, which will confront tax payers while they file their first GST return.
Narvekar further said, "We need to realise that the whole system of GST is new. But, even then, once you submit the form GSTR3B online, it can't be changed. It's very possible for people to make mistakes as they will be filing return for the first time."
More than anything else, tax-payers need to be aware that August 20 happens to be a Sunday. The GST return has to be filed online. Therefore, August 20 being a Sunday, shouldn't matter.
But, even then, it will make sense for businesses to file GST return before Sunday because it is possible that they may have to avail services of a tax-expert, who may or may not be working on a Sunday.
Dipak M Bandekar, commissioner of commercial taxes, said, "We have made chartered accountants available in five of our offices to help people with any GST related issue. These offices are Panaji, Margao, Vasco, Ponda and Mapusa. Moreover, we even have a helpdesk, which people can approach. However, the CAs and the helpdesk will work from Monday to Friday and not on Saturday and Sunday."
