Key Points
The recent directive to central goods and services tax officers for maintaining ease of doing business while engaging in investigation with regular taxpayers has been welcomed by experts, who believe that it could contribute towards greater tax certainty..
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) recently came out with a uniform procedure for undertaking enforcement activities involving regular taxpayers by CGST field formations to ensure ease of doing business..
The Principal Commissioner shall be responsible for developing and approving any intelligence, conducting a search, and completing the investigation in a case and the relevant subsequent action, including in the divisional formations, the CBIC said, adding that any information or intelligence collected will also be sent to the Principal Commissioner...
In all of above four categories of cases, the concerned CGST field formation should also collect details regarding the prevalent trade practices and nature of transactions carried out from the stakeholders, the CBIC highlighted, adding that the implications or impact of such matter should be studied to have adequate justification for initiating investigation and action...
While it is appreciated that future investigations into big industrial houses and major multinational corporations will only be taken up after approval of Zonal Principal Chief Commissioner, the instruction lacks clarity on the taxpayers covered within the said category..
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Only principal commissioners or higher officials can probe into GST, other sensitive matters: CBIC
30, Mar, 24The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has made it mandatory for high-ranking officials, such as the principal commissioner or above, to approve investigations, searches, or questioning in GST matters related to large industrial houses, multinationals, and those with national implications. This move, aimed at minimizing instances of harassment, follows a directive from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to adopt a more taxpayer-friendly approach. Taxpayers can also approach designated officials of the rank of principal commissioner in case of grievances during an investigation.