Nirmala Sitharaman Pledges Easier GST Compliance, Only 2% Assessees Receive Notices

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirms that under 2% of 58.62 lakh GST assessees have received tax notices, aiming to simplify compliance. The GST Council's 53rd meeting introduced taxpayer-friendly measures, including waiving interest and penalties if tax demands for fiscal years 2017-2020 are settled by March 31, 2025.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed a commitment to easing GST compliance burdens, declaring that less than two percent of the 58.62 lakh taxpayers under Central GST administration had been issued tax notices.

At a press briefing following the GST Council's 53rd meeting, Sitharaman emphasized that the government's intention is to facilitate smoother compliance processes for taxpayers. 'On behalf of the CGST, notices are not being sent left, right, and center,' she stated.

The GST Council took proactive steps to assist taxpayers, including waiving interest and penalties for demands from fiscal years 2017-18 to 2019-20, provided the full outstanding tax is paid by March 31, 2025. The Council also recommended reducing the required pre-deposit for GST appeal filings and exempted compensation cess on imports for SEZ operations starting July 1, 2017.

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