UP traders demand uniform GST

Want GST to be deferred by at least two years.

Uttar Pradesh traders have demanded single Goods and Services Tax (GST) as opposed to dual GST proposed to be implemented in the country from April 1, 2010.

The traders further want GST implementation of GST be deferred by at least two years allowing the traders to develop better understanding of the new and advanced tax regime.

“The first discussion paper on GST circulated by the Centre is ambiguous on several points and appears as complicated as was Value Added Tax (VAT),” UP Adarsh Vyapar Mandal president Sanjay Gupta told Business Standard.

Gupta had attended the Confederation of All India Traders’ meeting chaired by West Bengal Finance Minister and Chairman of the central panel on GST Asim Dasgupta on November 19.

He said the government was preparing to implement central GST, state GST and another inter-state GST, which would be opposed tooth and nail by the traders.

“Besides, the discussion paper does not talk about abolition of central sales tax (CST) on petroleum products and alcohol even under the GST regime, which is another grey area,” he underlined.

Gupta demanded that uniformity in GST structure be maintained across the country and the central and respective state governments decided on their share of the tax revenues.

Meanwhile, the traders’ body has constituted a committee comprising chartered accountants, trade tax experts and traders paying maximum tax to study the first discussion paper, so that formal recommendations regarding GST could be sent to Dasgupta within the stipulated one month.

“The Centre should create awareness on GST and dispel doubts in the minds of traders by organising seminars,” he suggested.

Gupta maintained after the first discussion paper, second and final discussion papers would be circulated and it was near impossible to implement GST next year.