Anurag Singh Thakur
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE
AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
NEW DELHI-110001
Message of Hon’ble MOS(Finance) on GST Day
I am happy to note that we have completed 3 years today since the launch of GST in the historic portals of Parliament in the midnight of 1st July 2017. Honorable Prime Minister of India had said in his opening remarks in the address to the Joint session of the Parliament that day, “In the process of nation building, we often arrive at a moment which leads us to a path breaking juncture and opens up a plethora of opportunities imploring us to aspire for new dreams. At the stroke of the midnight hour today, together we shall ensure a pioneering future of the nation.”
This in itself, sums up the experience of GST during the past three years. GST has brought about changes and new opportunities in all spheres of economy and taxation. GST, not only subsumed most of the indirect taxes and created one tax, it has also unified the country and trade in many more ways, thus bringing out “One Nation One Tax” in true spirit. E-way bills have led to abolition of state-based way bills and entry forms and paved way for a single market for the nation. Freight travel time has reduced considerably, decreasing costs for trade. GST has also utilized information & technology platforms effectively by providing electronic and faceless filing of returns thus further increasing transparency and ease of compliance for the taxpayers.
COVID-19 pandemic posed a new challenge to the department to keep the taxation machinery running while facilitating taxpayers. I am happy to note that CBIC officers worked tirelessly from home during the lockdown period with the help of IT platforms to process GST refunds, which in turn provided much needed liquidity to the taxpayers during these challenging times.
I am glad to learn about the appreciable work done by CBIC field officers in reaching out and helping the under-privileged persons and stranded migrant workers in various parts of the country by providing them food, sanitization & Medical items and transportation facilities.
While a lot of work has already been done during past three years for simplification of tax administration and easing the compliance for the taxpayers, however, much more still needs to be done. Return filing process needs to be made easier and processing of return and allowing input tax credit needs to be made faster. More handholding of the trade by GST officers is required. I am sure that CBIC will take further measures in this direction for “Ease of Doing Business“.
I congratulate and convey my wishes to all the tax officers, tax payers and all other stakeholders for the successful journey of GST during these 3 years. I am sure that with contribution of all stakeholders, we will make our country truly self-reliant- “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.
