The government is set to make amendments to GST laws in the monsoon session of Parliament to simplify filing returns, modify the composition scheme under which small traders can pay tax based on their revenue, and eliminate ambiguities in the laws.
The proposed GST changes will do away with the need for filing tax returns on purchases made by businesses, called GSTR2, and comprehensive returns called GSTR3. Currently, these returns have been kept in abeyance and businesses only file sales returns, called GSTR1, and GSTR3B summary returns.
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The GST Council had approved a new system in May where all taxpayers need to file a single return and small businesses need to file quarterly returns, after a six-month transition period, under the composition scheme.
The focus has now shifted from tax rate changes, an official familiar with discussions in the GST Council said on condition of anonymity.
“Now the focus is on ensuring timely disbursal of tax refunds and encouraging compliance,” the official said. Another official said changes to tax laws on composition scheme, which has seen many instances of tax evasion, may depend on a decision on the reverse charge mechanism—wherein large registered buyers pay tax on behalf of small unregistered sellers, which has been kept in abeyance.
“Several amendments including those that will simplify GST compliance and improve ease of doing business in GST, are expected to be taken up in the monsoon session,” said M.S. Mani, a partner at Deloitte India.
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