The Finance Department of Maharashtra has recently issued a significant amendment to the Maharashtra Value Added Tax (VAT) Act of 2002. This amendment, aimed at providing relief to late filers, addresses concerns regarding technical difficulties and overdue returns.
The notification, numbered VAT-1524/C.R. 15/Taxation-1, exercises powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (6) of section 20 of the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, 2002. It amends the previous Government Notification, Finance Department, No. VAT-1513/ C.R.124/Taxation-1, dated January 1, 2014.
The key amendment lies in the addition of an entry in the Schedule, following entry 10. This new entry addresses dealers liable to file returns under rule 17 or 18 of the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Rules, 2005, who faced technical difficulties in filing returns due between March 1, 2024, and March 31, 2024.
According to the notification, late fees for returns due in this period will be waived entirely. However, certain conditions apply:
1. The specified returns must be filed on or before April 30, 2024.
2. Any applicable tax, along with the applicable interest, must be paid by March 31, 2024.
This amendment provides a grace period for affected dealers to fulfill their filing obligations without incurring late fees. It acknowledges the challenges posed by technical difficulties and aims to mitigate their impact on taxpayers.
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FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Mantralaya, Madam Cama Marg, Hutatma Rajguru Chowk,
Mumbai 400 032, dated the 24th April 2024.
NOTIFICATION
MAHARASHTRA VALUE ADDED TAX ACT, 2002.
No. VAT-1524/C.R. 15/Taxation-1.—In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to sub-section (6) of section 20 of the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, 2002 (Mah. IX of 2005), the Government of Maharashtra, hereby amends the Government Notification, Finance Department, No. VAT-1513/ C.R.124/Taxation-1, dated the 1st January 2014, as follows, namely :—
In the Schedule, appended to the said notification, after entry 10, the following entry shall be added, namely :—
|
(A) |
(B) | (C) | (D) | (E) |
| “1 | Dealer, who is liable to file the return under rule 17 or 18 of the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Rules, 2005 and where the due date prescribed to file said return falls between the 1st March 2024 to 31st March 2024 but could not file the return due to technical difficulties. | Returns whose due date falls between the 1st March 2024 to 31st March 2024. | Whole of the late fee payable in respect of the return specified in column (c). | (1) Return, specified in column (c) shall be filed on or before the 30th April 2024.
(2) Tax payable, if any, as per the return, referred to in column (c) alongwith the applicable interest, shall be paid on or before the 31st March 2024”. |
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
MANDAR KELKAR,
Deputy Secretary to Government.
