GST Updates: UP Govt. Starts Portal For GST Complaints; Pune Traders Threaten Strike

After the rollout of Goods and Services Tax (GST) effective July 1st, there has been several news and updates related to this new tax structure, as taxpayers are warming up to the concept.

Here is a brief review of major GST related news, which occurred in the last 24 hours:

UP Govt.’s New GST Complaint Portal

There are several issues related to GST, which small traders and businesses are not able to understand. GST related migration, composition scheme, return, registration, payment/challan, connectivity, e-way Bill, back end issues and more are confusing, no doubt.

In order to listen to the problems, and issues faced by traders, and small businesses, UP Govt. has launched a portal, which will receive these complaints, and then experts and concerned officers will provide solutions.

Commercial tax commissioner, UP, Mukesh Meshram launched this portal yesterday.

UP Commercial Tax Dept. has already launched a portal for information and details related with GST, which also includes tutorials and guides.

Pune Traders Threaten Strike Against Complex GST Rules

Meanwhile, traders from Pune have threatened to launch a major strike, if Govt. doesn’t simplify the GST filing rules.

This call for nationwide strike has been announced by The Poona Merchants’ Chamber.

Popatlal Ostwal, president of the chamber said, “We do not have a number as to how many traders affiliated with us have not filed the returns. The GST e-filing portal is often out of service and is not equipped to handle the rush,”

As per him, electricity and Internet connectivity are other major issues, which are discouraging traders and businesses from filing GST returns.

He said, “Even internet connectivity is poor in these areas. Despite two filing cycles having passed, people are still having trouble with the system.”

State Finance Minister has assured that their complaints will be forwarded to relevant authorities.

Sales Of Flash Drive Decrease

Meanwhile, in an interesting report, it was found that sales of pen drive and external storage devices have been reduced by 53%, post GST.

As per a report by CMR Insights, it found that sale of Micro SD cards, flash drives, SD cards and pen drives for FY18 (Q1 FY18) is 53% less than the same period, last year.

If compared by quarter, then it is 8% less; however, sale of Micro SD card increased by 2%, quarter wise.

As per the report, the biggest reason for this massive slump in sales has been GST as the companies focused on buying only those stock which they can sell within this quarter.

Increased internal storage in mobile phones is attributed as another reason for this phenomenon.