Handle with care

GST notices should not become a tool for harassment

The goods and services tax (GST) authorities have started knocking at the doors of assessees. As reported by this newspaper on Monday, about 50,000 show-cause notices have been issued so far to companies and partnership firms in sectors such as jewellery and real estate. These notices are a result of the first comprehensive audit exercise since the implementation of the new indirect tax regime. The authorities have mostly covered the returns filed for the first two years (2017-18 and 2018-19). In some cases, returns have also been audited for later years. Different reasons have been underlined for issuing notices, such