Government Reportedly Working on Simplified GST Filing Forms

The government is continuously working upon to make the GST filing process easier so that the taxpayers don’t face any difficulties in filing returns at GSTN portal. In a new move taken by the government, the form will be created as per the requirement of the user and it is expected that it will make the filing process easier which has been remarked for complexity.

The newly appointed chairman of GSTN portal, Ajay Bhushan Pandey said “rather than a standard form for all taxpayers, individuals can ask several questions upon signing in and the best suitable form will be shown on the basis of nature of business and transactions. We are looking at these options so that the forms can be simpler”.

The form in the system may be generated in an innovative manner and only the relevant information which is required to a particular dealer will be shown so that the taxpayers will not face any difficulties in filing returns at the GSTN portal. “The ultimate aim is that the small taxpayers should be able to file the returns without much assistance from outside”, he said. Pandey is also the CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which handles the project related to Aadhaar.

In spite of teething problems post-GST implementation, 56 lakh traders filed their returns on the GSTN portal, said Pandey. He further added that “It means that 56 lakh people somehow know how to file the returns on a new system. So progressively more and more people will be able to come on the platform.” The government has also started taking feedback from the taxpayers who have filed returns to understand the issues faced by them in filing returns at the GSTN portal so that they can be corrected in the system.

“A very simple form can be very dynamically generated, depending upon the nature of the transactions. Suppose if I have not made any transaction in a month, then I should have to just press a button to file my return, instead of filling zero or nil at multiple places”, said Pandey.

Initially, problems had been faced by taxpayers in filing returns at GSTN portal, as the system is new for the people. After the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), several measures have been taken by the government and modification in the tax rate structures as well as filing process so that business entities file their returns easily.

“There are 35 states and union territories apart from service tax and excise tax departments; so almost 37 systems had to migrate to one platform. With 90 lakh dealers and thousands of tax officials along with so many tax practitioners – naturally, if you bring any change like this, people might face certain difficulties initially”, said Pandey. Most of the People who are required to pay the taxes have already filed their returns under GST. The government is also working on to reduce the intervals of filing returns.

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Pratik Jain, leader of indirect tax at PwC India, said that it is a great move taken by the government to further simplify the format of GSTN portal, there is a need to strengthen the existing system before announcing any new changes. “The issue currently is not too much complexity of the forms but the technical challenges experienced on GSTN. It might be better to focus on a thorough testing of GSTN to iron out current issues rather than introducing new forms, etc., which may take more time to stabilize”, Jain said.