The common man and most of the small scale businesses in the city are yet to get a feel of the Goods and Services Tax. While people have kept their fingers crossed over prices of various goods and services, many establishments are in a state of confusion. Traders, in the absence of software for billing, sold stocks under the old rates on Saturday.
While businesses that have less than ₹20 lakh per year turnover are exempted from the GST, the others are yet to be approached by the authorities concerned.
“We have been learning about the GST only through the media. We are unaware of the changes applicable to hundreds of goods sold at our store. The billing software is yet to be updated,” said Naveen, manager of a departmental store. “As of now, we have been selling products from old stock at the old MRP. Only after we receive new stock, we and people will know the impact of the GST,” he said.
Some traders are issuing bills with pre-July 1 dates if goods are to be sold under the old MRPs to avoid action.
On the other hand, most of the air-conditioned restaurants began implementing the GST prices and people found no big difference. Movie tickets were also sold at old prices.
Some of the wholesale traders announced ‘special offers’ for goods whose prices increased under the GST. Branded garment stores are offering discounts up to Sunday.
“Most of the hotels are updated with the required GST software and new rates have been applied. The GST is good for budget hotels where the cost of rooms is less than ₹1000. In restaurants too, the prices slightly came down. However, it would be great if we are brought into the 12% slab,” said Ilapuram Raja, President of the Vijayawada Hoteliers Association. Consumer electronics traders registered poor sales.
