Airtel Launches ‘GST Advantage’ for Small Businesses – Hassle-Free GST Filing
Airtel has partnered with ClearTax to provide GST filing services
Post Jio’s launch, telecoms across India are in a tizzy trying to match up to or better Jio’s offerings. Some of them are looking to retain their existing user base, and hopefully adding more users, by offering something more beyond just telecom services.
Around a week ago, BSNL has launched their GST Suvidha Provider Service for its customers. It was aimed at making filing GST easier and pain-free. Earlier Jio had launched their own JioGST services with bundled offers for small businesses and merchants.
Hot on their heels, Airtel has launched its own GST Advantage to “enable small businesses and start-ups to file their GST returns accurately, securely and seamlessly”. Launched today, on 7th September 2017, it is being offered free to all existing Airtel Business customers. All they need to do is register themselves here.
It seems that everybody is getting on the GST wagon in some way these days.
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So, Why GST?
GST was born out of Government’s attempts to consolidate and simplify the tax structure. After many delays, GST was finally implemented on 1st July 2017. As it happens with all new things, there was a lot of confusion initially. With the rollout happening on such a big scale, there were some expected teething problems.
As these are being smoothed out, there is still some prevalent confusion. Especially among small businesses and startups. All these telecom providers are hoping to earn some brownie points, and win over some new customers, by offering these value-added services.
For small businesses and startups struggling to come to terms with GST, these services can prove to be a defining factor while choosing a telecom service provider.
Airtel GST Advantage: Three Main Attractions
1. Get Free And Secure Access To GST Network Via ClearTax:
ClearTax is one of India’s largest tax filing platform. Airtel has tied up with them for Airtel GST Advantage. All of Airtel’s customers who register themselves for this service will be able to access ClearTax’s GST software and platform for free till 31st March 2018, which otherwise is a subscription-based paid service.
2. Get The Best On-demand Professional Advice About GST:
Airtel’s newly launched GST Advantage Helpdesk will be available to all its registered customers between 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all weekdays. The helpdesk will be manned by trained GST experts who will address queries and offer advice regarding GST. Additionally, Airtel has released a GST Knowledge Bank developed by renowned tax experts. Airtel hopes to empower all Airtel Business Customers with this knowledge bank.
3. Preserve Bandwidth While Filing GST Returns:
With Airtel GST Advantage, Airtel is offering free additional 18GB data which will be spread over three months. This will be broken up as 2GB per month, per connection on a maximum of three connections. This will enable its customers to file returns without worrying about additional bandwidth charges.
Ashok Ganapathy, Director & CEO – Airtel Business said, “ The new GST regime is a landmark reform for the Indian economy and with Airtel GST Advantage, we would like to enable small businesses with free filing of returns, and free and secure data access. Airtel is also the data hosting and connectivity partner for the Goods and Services Network (GSTN)”.
More information regarding Airtel’s newest offering can be found here .
