Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has written a letter to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council urging it to take steps to issue a notification to the effect that the eWay bills/documents prescribed under Rule 138 of the State GST Rules apply to the IGST Act also for inter-State movement.
Certain traders are approaching courts contending that the States do not have power to enforce eWay bills for inter-State movement in the absence of any such provision under the IGST Act/Rules.
Mr. Ramakrishnudu, in the letter, said there was a reduction in effective rates of tax on several goods under the GST.
However, there was no corresponding fall in prices of those goods. Hence, it was necessary to evolve a robust price control mechanism at the Central government level, he said.
The Minister called for necessary arrangement facilitating the traders to file their returns 24X7. At present, there was no such provision.
The traders planning to file the returns during night hours were compelled to forego their precious business hours, he said.
Exemption sought
“I once again request you to consider granting exemption u/s 23(2) of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) from obtaining registration and payment of GST by issuing a suitable notification under Sec. 23(2) of CGST, SGST Acts,” he said.
Tax reduction
Mr. Ramakrishnudu reminded the Council that he wrote letters regarding exemption/reduction of the rates of tax of certain goods used by the common people or low income people.
Tamarind was exempted from tax under the VAT regime. But under the GST, only fresh tamarind was exempted and dried tamarind was made taxable at 12%.
Likewise dry fish, fishnets and fishnet fabrics, granite slabs, napa tiles, biodiesel, cotton yarn in hanks, textiles, natu tobacco cheroot, tractors, fried grams, hybrid cars and fish feed supplements need exemption/reduction, he said.
