The GST Network (GSTN) portal is managing all of the IT functions relating to taxes such as filing returns, registrations, invoice details, input tax credit (ITC) and it is a non-profit, non- government organization. It has been receiving at the end that problem arises due to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax System (GST) System in India.
While talking upon challenges Prakash said that Currently we are working upon to complete the pending IT functions and building the back- end system nearly for 27 states. About 27,000 tax officials of 27 states are working upon to develop the system. Previously, we had planned to complete the pending functionality task in the second phase but we started working on it. GSTN main aim is to provide IT functionalities to these states as soon as possible. Remaining nine states performing their GST work on their own.
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ETCFO communicated with the Chairman of GSTN, Prakash Kumar, regarding the outstanding issues and IT functions in upcoming months. Previously, Kumar also worked as an officer of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) between 1985 to 2008, whereas he handled various projects ranging from Information Technology, Corporate Entities, Human Resource Management and many more. He held positions at the strategic consulting arm of Cisco from 2008 to 2013. For 1 year (2013- 14) Prakash handled positions as National Technology Officer at Microsoft India.
Kumar feels that the GSTN didn’t have sufficient time to work upon such complex project of GST. The government had not given us sufficient time to develop, test the portal and then guide to taxpayers for the new changes.
Apart from these, there are some more pending functionalities in the present GSTN portal. Firstly, we are focusing on the ‘appeal’ functionality. We had never expected that appeal functionality will be required. But when the registration of candidates is cancelled at the system, taxpayers will utilize the ‘appeal functionality’. In view of this, we are working on a lot of IT functions.
Secondly, we are working on the refund process which we are trying that it works automatically. We are trying to deliver this in coming 3 months. Currently, it is operating half- manually and half automatically and then the officer will cross-check the bill and approve it. The refunds totally based on the computerised way in coming three months.
While asking about the other priorities, Chairman of GSTN, Prakash Kumar said that From the past experience and feedback from the taxpayers we are working to modify the whole GST Network. In respect of this, a committee of 10 members has been formulated by the government, headed by GSTN chairman. I am also a member of this committee.
A committee is working upon to simplify the complex taxation process, how taxpayers will be handling the system. Even we are trying to simplify the GSTR 3 Form and will have to modify the whole GST Network to be tuned according to the taxpayers demand.