Return forms proposed for the goods and services tax (GST) are set to put an end to one of the widely used methods for tax evasion—claiming rebate for tax that was not paid in the first place.

The new forms, set to roll out shortly starting with large businesses, will prevent companies from claiming any more tax rebate than what they are eligible for, going by invoices issued by the vendors. Under GST, which is a value-added tax system, only the amount of value addition, or margins claimed by businesses at any given point in the supply chain, is taxed. This is done by granting credit to businesses for taxes paid previously on raw material and services. The tax credit system under GST is an improvement over what existed in the pre-GST era, but it was not watertight, said experts. The proposed new forms seek to close this gap.

The original date for businesses to compulsorily start filing the new form was 1 July, but it will be revised for a gradual roll out to avoid any disruption and to give small businesses more time to get on board. The final roll out schedule is likely to be decided when the GST Council meets next.

In the pre-GST era, when businesses paid excise duty, service tax and value added tax (VAT), buyers could seek credits for taxes paid on raw material and services based on the hard copy of the invoice issued by the seller. Now, the seller has to upload details of the transaction, which gets reflected in what is called the buyer’s electronic credit ledger. However, utilizing this credit is based on self- declaration, which the authorities can verify subsequently. Once the new returns are introduced, the need for self-declaration and the mismatches between credits available as per transaction sales that the seller has uploaded in the tax portal, and what the buyer has claimed gets eliminated. #casansaar (Source - LiveMint)