The government has approved the restructuring of the apex policy making body for indirect taxes CBEC ahead of the transition to the Goods and Services Tax from 1July

“The Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) is being renamed as the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), after getting legislative approval,” a finance ministry statement said.

The CBIC would supervise the work of all its field formations and directorates and assist the government in policy making in relation to GST, continuing central excise levy and customs functions, it said.

The CBIC will have 21 Zones, 101 GST Tax payer Services Commissionerates comprising 15 sub-Commissionerates, 768 Divisions, 3969 Ranges, 49 Audit Commissionerates and 50 Appeals Commissionerates, the government said in a statement.

The existing directorate general of systems and taxpayer services is also being strengthened. The directorate general of GST intelligence is also proposed to be strengthened to help check tax evasion.#casansaar (PTI - LiveMint)