REQUEST LETTER TO MAKE IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS

GST has been implemented in India by the central government w.e.f. 01.07.2017.  As this is a completely new and an extremely complex tax system, which largely depends on the GST portal and handling of huge data every month, it is very difficult for taxpayers and CAs and the tax consultants to complete all the necessary documentation within time and hence all the CAs, tax consultants and taxpayers are under tremendous pressure because of GST.  We read in the news that some consultant and CA have died of heart attack or have committed suicide due to the stress. So it is absolutely necessary to make it simple. In this connection please note that there are many points which need the attention and amendments in GST Act.

1) Late Fees : Government should not charge late fees unless and until the online system is streamlined. There were many technical issues with the site, because of which assessee had to pay late fees. So you are requested to waive the late fees. The government itself agreed in its GST Council Meeting that there are many technical issues with the site and the site fails to function time and again. Because of that many assesses could not file their return within the time limit. Accordingly the government has extended the due date for GSTR1 to 31st October 2018 and waived off the late fees for GSTR1. On the same grounds you are requested to waive the penalty for GSTR 3B as well, as its filing also suffers from the same technical issues. In the larger interest of public further late fees amount should be restricted to the tax payable. Rights should be given to concern Nodal officer to waive the late fees if it is charged without the fault of assessee. There should not be any late fees for NIL Return. Further please do not charge penalty for GSTR 3B if payment is made in time.

2) Separate Return : Please treat each return for different period separately. Some return may be pending due to any technical issue or any other issue. In such case, please allow to us to file the return for the next month. Currently if any return is pending because of any issue all returns for the next month’s get held up until that issue is sorted out. Subsequently these returns attracts penalty unnecessarily. So please treat each return separately. If a return for an earlier period is not filed, the next return should get filed. It should not be dependent on return for the earlier month.

3) Revised Return : Currently there is no provision for the revised return. We are human beings and minor errors are bound to happen. So you are requested to allow us to file revised return. Government has made many revisions through notification and circulars, clarifications. Similarly a chance to rectify the mistake should also be given to the taxpayers.

4) Single Return : The complex structure of various returns must be simplified. There should be a single return for small scale businessmen and composition dealers. The submission purchase data should not be compulsory for composite dealers.

5) Due Date : As we have to comply various statutory norms such as TDs before 7th, ESI & PF before 15th, Advance Tax, Quarterly TDS Returns, Tax Audits, Income Tax returns etc., you are requested to keep the due date of GST return at the month end. It will reduce some burden on tax payer as well as consultants.

6) Other Points : There are many more points which need attention and some revision. Some of these are ITC 04, RCM, E way Bill, etc. These should not be applicable for small scale dealers. There should be a turnover Limit for this. It is extremely time consuming and the businessman has to maintain huge additional records. This slows down the overall productivity of the small businesses to a great extent.

7) Refund & Claims : There are many technical issues with the site, while submitting Tran 1 and Tran 2. Because of that some assessees could not get the credit of the same. He could not get the claimed refund. So you are requested to sort out the issue on priority basis or allow us to file the claim manually.

8) Grace Period : Please allow us grace period for authentication of return through EVC or Digital signature. Many times assessee did not get an OTP and we could not file the return. So please allow us Grace period of 10 days for EVC. Please treat the return in time if it is uploaded in time. Further it takes up to 3 days to update the data in GSTR 1 if data is more. Because of that we are unable to submit the return in time. So please allow us grace period of 5 days for the same. As data could not updated in time it is attracting penalty without the fault of assesses.

9) Party wise data : Uploading the bill wise data is time consuming and increases the workload of client as well as of consultant. Further we get only 10 days to upload the same. So you are requested to accept the party wise data for GSTR1 and not bill wise and extend this date till the next month end.

10) Payments : Many a times there are some errors on the site while making payments, on GST site it is shown as the payment is initiated and our bank accounts also get debited by the same. In such a case return should be treated as filed in time as there is no fault from the assesee.

11) Data Security : The businessman’s bill wise data along with HSN code is uploaded on the portal. Please ensure and assure us the data security for the same. Please assure us that our data will not get hacked by anyone and will not use by our competitor or there will not be any misuse of our data.

12) Rights to Local Nodal Officer : Rights should be given to local nodal officer to attend the grievances filed by the assesee or take any decision regarding the same. Currently officer is saying nothing is in our hands. The taxpayer and the consultants have absolutely no idea whom to approach with the grievances.

13) Shared Responsibility :    As successful implementation of GST is the joint responsibility of the government, tax payers and Consultants. So the government should also be responsible for keeping GST site and portal error free. Only tax payers should not be punished for technical issues.

REGISTRATION FOR PROFESSIONAL

Meaning of Professionals  -  Professionals for the tax purposes in India include Architects, Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, Cost Accountants, Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Technical Consultants, Interior Decorators, Film Directors, Cameramen, Artists, Singers, Authors, IT Professionals, Authorised Representative etc. The above have been listed out specifically as professions in section 44AA under Income Tax Act, 1961 and notified there under (Notifications No. SO-17(E) dated 12.1.77, No. SO 2675 dated 25.9.1992 and No. SO 385(E), dated 4.5.2001). These normally are applicable for the purposes of GST as well.

GST Exemption Limit for Professionals- Small Professionals having gross receipts less than 20 lakhs have been provided exemption from GST compliance vide Notification No. 10/2017-Central Tax dated 13/10/2017.

GST Rate for Professionals- Currently 18% rate of GST is applicable on almost all categories of professionals in India except some specific exemptions provided for healthcare services. These professionals need to get themselves registered under GST laws, collect GST @ 18% on their invoices and deposit the same to the Government treasury, after adjusting allowed set offs-ITC, if any.

Documents Required For GST Registration of Professionals- 1.PAN 2.Photo 3.Address Proof 4.Address Proof for Office 5.NOC if Office is on rent 6.Mobile No. and Email ID

Return Filings Under GST- Once the registration is done, monthly, quarterly and annual filings are required depending upon the facts of the particular case. Major relevant GST forms are GSTR 3B, GSTR 1 etc.

Period For Which Records To Be Maintained- GST laws mandate keeping of relevant records such as accounts, invoices etc. for minimum 6 years.