Cabinet Secretary P.K.Sinha has asked the Secretaries of different Ministries/departments to set up a Goods and Services Tax (GST) Facilitation Cell in their respective department/ministry.

The Cell will be in constant touch with the major industry and business associations relating to the respective Ministry/Department and provide all possible support for the smooth roll out of GST with effect from July 1, Sinha said in a letter to the Secretaries of different Ministries.

While the Revenue Department is making helplines operational for any individual taxpayer to seek resolution of any legal or I-T related issues, the GST Facilitation Cell could serve as the first point of contact for addressing any issue being faced by any business or industrial sector related to the respective Ministry. This is expected to greatly facilitate the rollout of GST, the Cabinet Secretary said.

In his letter, Sinha has also asked the Secretaries of various Ministries to ensure that all Public Sector Units (PSUs) under the administrative control of their respective Ministry/Department are GST compliant before July 1 this year.

Sinha added that preferably each PSU may constitute a GST Cell, which in turn should be fully equipped with the complete knowledge of all relevant GST Act/ Rules/Rate Structure.

Sinha has further stated that to ensure smooth and successful roll-out of GST, it is essential that all stakeholders, both in the Government as well outside, are adequately prepared for the roll-out.Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that all sectors/businesses are GST ready before July 1, the Cabinet Secretary said.#casansaar (Source - PTI, The Hindu Business Line)