goods and services tax

It gives me great pleasure to be here on this occasion when the Empowered Committee under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Asim Dasgupta is releasing its First Discussion Paper on the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST). At the outset, let me whole-heartedly congratulate all of you for giving shape and form to an idea whose time, I believe, has truly come. Full Article

An acute shortage of trained tax professionals coupled with a changing and complex tax landscape has led to a sharp rise in the pay packets of such experts with the average salary more than doubling in the past year alone, according to senior executives from tax and legal firms. While an entry level tax professional today commands not less than Rs 10 lakh per annum in some of the country's top firms, the salary range for a middle-level professional is between Rs 25 lakh .. Full Article

The Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, on Friday hinted at some slippage to the scheduled Goods and Services Tax (GST) system rollout by April 1, 2010. Introduction of the GST, billed as a flagship tax reform measure of the UPA Government, is considered crucial for attracting increased doses of domestic and foreign investments. Full Article

The automation drive by the country’s excise and service tax department took another step forward Wednesday with the access to online registration and filing of returns made available in the national capital and surrounding regions. ‘The main objective of the automation drive is to provide an electronic interface with the department that aims to reduce costs, the paperwork, visits to our offices,’ said Sreela Ghosh, chief commissioner of excise and service tax in t.. Full Article

States have finally reached a consensus on having two basic rates under the Goods and Services Tax, slated to be rolled out on April 1, 2010. There will be one standard rate of taxation and another low rate of taxation for essential commodities. Full Article

Asking the state finance ministers to resolve the pending issues expeditiously, the Centre on Thursday said introducing Goods and Services Tax was critical for economic reforms. “We also need to focus on the introduction of GST from April 1, 2010. This is a critical part of our economic reforms,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said while [...] Full Article

At present, the tax, which is levied on inter state sale of goods, is at 2%. It was scheduled to be reduced by another 1%, starting April 1, 2009. At the time, the rate cut was postponed on account of the general elections and the Election Commission’s code of conduct. Recently, the empowered committee of state finance ministers wrote to the Union finance ministry recommending that the tax should be completely withdrawn when GST kicks in, as there is massive evasion of.. Full Article

Direct tax rates may be tinkered by new government that may present its first budget later next month, according to a study. This may be in line with changed taxation policies followed by most governments worldwide to beat slowdown and recession that set in following global financial turmoil. Full Article