ADITYA RAJ DAS / NEW DELHI
The All India Tax Advocates Forum (AITAF) has expressed serious concern over GST Council decision empowering officers of both Central and State to enter into the domain of tax payer irrespective of the administrative assignment of the taxpayer to any authority is causing panic and utter confusion among the trading community.
“Because of such decision of the GST Council, the trader has now to face double wraths—one of the Central Tax Officers and the other of State Tax Officers thus amplifying the scope for harassment. Besides, such a decision will give impetus to corruption,” the AITAF President M K Gandhi—a noted tax consultant– said in a statement issued here.
Illustrating concern of traders Gandhi cited a scenario where on one day Central Tax Officer can initiate enforcement action against a trader and the very next day State Tax Officer can do the same.
“The trading community is not asking the Government that no enforcement action should be taken against the trader if he is guilty. What the trading community expects from the Government is that only concerned officers exercising jurisdiction in their respective field should take action against the guilty taxpayer, the AITAF Chief said.