'Glitches of GST easing out for freight brokers'

The Calcutta Freight Brokers Association (CFBA) on Friday said the preliminary procedural hurdles of Goods and Services Tax (GST) have been easing out and exports consignments picking up.

"Initially, there were lot of problems with procedural issues after the roll-out of GST from July 1. There were problems in generating shipping bills. But a lot has been eased and now export consignments has also picked up now," CFBA's Chairman Rajiv Agarwall said on the sidelines of Association's 79th AGM.

He said freight brokers fall under the purview of service providers and they are supposed to raise bills on shipping companies charging appropriate amount of GST.

"Various shipping companies have been following different methods of brokerage payment, some make payments through self-generated statements, this needs to be reviewed and revised," he said.

Association's former Chairman Bharat Jain said exporters are not happy with the imposition of five per cent GST on ocean freight which was exempted earlier.

"This will lock up working capital," he said, adding that exporters are also facing confusion on GST on exports of SEZ cargo.

Agarwall said draft remains problem for Kolkata Port and after Dhamra Port begins container cargo there is a risk of flight of cargo.

--IANS

bdc/vd