Merchants’ organisations, under the banner of the Joint Action Council of Trade Organisations in Kerala, will shut shops on August 20 demanding the withdrawal of the 2 per cent turnover tax introduced by the State government. The organisation is also protesting against the government directive to merchants to mandatorily furnish online form 8 (F) for inter-State goods transport.
At a press conference here on Monday, members of the action council urged the government to desist from charging interest at 36 per cent from tax defaulters. They expressed concern over the government sending notices online, as ‘many small-time merchants had no access to online material.’
On-road interception of vehicles by the Sales Tax intelligence wing was sheer harassment, office-bearers of the organisation said.
The Vyapari Vyavasayi Congress said the organisation would not support the agitation on August 20.
