GST dues of any state are due after the centre it said and certain state governments still need to submit the AGs authenticated certificate for the release of their funds of share.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while answering the supplementary question in Rajya Sabha remarked the narrative that GST dues are left from the centre is not true and is a misnomer since the states do not provide the report of AG. It is essential to know that the AG’s (accountant general) certification is (mandatory) when the AG’s certificate does not reach us we cannot clear certain states despite providing the certificate of AG, telling us to hold until they clear the same, she added.
Answering a question from TMC member Saket Gokhale who sought the GST dues of the states, particularly to West Bengal. He seeks a cause for which the state GST dues were retained.
She particularly names certain states, Sitharaman added. “No certificate of AG is been submitted by Goa for 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20. Till now it has not sent the report for 2021-22 and the first quarter 2022-23. For 2022-23, no state, excluding Karnataka, has given AG’s certificate till now,” she expressed.
From 2019-20 West Bengal has not provided the report of AG for the first quarter of 2022-23. The certificate of AG does not come from West Bengal therefore the amount does not get released, she mentioned adding that to call it due is a misnomer. We shall clear the same and let them provide the certificate of AG. distinct states do not submit the report of AG.
She specified that the certificate of AG is been provided by Kerala however it told us to hold till they reconcile the numbers with AG themselves. Therefore we are holding on. The same is not due from our side, she mentioned.
Pankaj Chaudhary the Minister of State who was also in the house mentioned that no GST dues of any state government are there. It has been provided to the pertinent states. Despite certain states not having sent the report of AG. Even though we have incurred certain provisional payments. Once the report of AG has been obtained then they shall obtain the final GST payment, he added.
Rajiv Shukla a Congress member seeks the problem of misuse of the arrest provisions and wishes to learn the process that the government might opt for to facilitate the process of GST filing.
Sitharaman while answering mentioned that the finance ministers of the state governments which are the team members of the GST council are being told about the issues that the traders suffer and the business communities on the foundation. She mentioned that the GST council has discussed such things and periodically the forms are been eased as per that.
Sitharaman mentioned the misuse of the authority by the local officers more than his brief, action shall be taken via the council. As per the finance minister, she will welcome any member who thinks that some issues were faced on the basis specifically the officers who exceed their briefs, she shall feel good to obtain and take the action against them.
