Generating e-waybill is mandatory from April 15 for movement of goods within the boundaries of five States including Andhra Pradesh. The rule is likely to give a boost to the revenues in the State apart from keeping a tab on tax evasion.
The commercial tax officials estimate that tax evasion of about 15 to 16% could be checked by making the e-way bills mandatory. A clear picture would emerge in two weeks.
Andhra Pradesh is one of the top five States in terms of number of e-waybills generated with March seeing 8.86 lakh bills. More than 60,000 traders/dealers registered with the department are using them. Notwithstanding, there are slippages in transportation as the bills are not mandatory all these days.
Commercial Taxes Deputy Commissioner Ch. C. V. Ravikanth says AP generates 3 to 6 lakh e-waybills every month.
The number would go up significantly with the new rule as another 40,000 to 50,000 dealers would become part of it. There are 2 lakh GST registered dealers in the State, he says.
Mr. Ravikanth says the system is one of the anti-evasion measures in the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It will prevent manipulation of the value of goods transported.
The integration of informal transactions into the formal economy is possible apart from boosting revenues, he says.
Andhra Pradesh primarily being a consumption and service State, the inward flow from manufacturing States like Maharashtra is more compared to outflow. But the move would help augment revenues. “A clear picture on revenues would emerge by month end,” he says.
Cancellation
Comparing with the previous tax system, the official says there is a provision for cancellation of e-way bill within 24 hours by the person who has generated it.
The recipient can also reject the bill within 72 hours of generation. Under the Value-Added Tax (VAT), there was no scope for such cancellations. About 10 lakh waybills used to be generated under the VAT in the State, he adds.
