Two helpline centres opened in Noida to help industrialists migrate to GST

The Central Excise department has opened two helpline centres to assist commercial tax payers to migrate to Goods and Service Tax (GST) that is likely to come into effect from July 1.

Many are finding it difficult to upload documents and e-signature for getting permanent IDs. The Union government wants to make GST, which will bring a uniform tax regime across the country, a reality from July 1.

Vaibhav Bhatnagar , assistant commissioner, Central Excise Commissionerate Noida-I, said on Thursday that two helpline centres have been made operational at their headquarters in Sector 62 and Noida Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) office, Sector 6. Officials have been deputed to these centres to educate and assist the tax payers in making a smooth migration to the GST network.

He said the idea behind opening these sewa kendras (helpline centres) is to assist the tax payers who have not been able to get an application reference number (ARN) that is generated at the time of submitting the GST enrolment application.

“There are 1,762 commercial tax payers who have an annual turnover of over Rs 1.5 crore in Noida. They have already been issued provisional IDs for GST. However, some of them are finding it difficult to upload their documents or digital signatures on the web portal for getting ARN. They will be given assistance at the sewa kendras. We intend to give ARN to all by March 31,” he said.

Bhatnagar said those having annual turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore will have to get themselves registered for GST with the state authorities.

“They have to register on the GST portal to a pay uniform tax in future. At present, they pay sales tax or VAT to the state government and the excise and service tax to the Centre under different or multiple registration numbers. Once GST is implemented, there will be one registration number only. In our previous workshops and seminars, we clarified that for sales, VAT, excise and service tax, one registration number will be applicable in GST and this will make the system easy,” he said.

In January, the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) officials had asked entrepreneurs and traders who pay taxes to the Centre and state separately to register on the GST portal at the earliest.

Last December and in January this year, the central excise department organised an interactive seminar on GST for the members of trade and industry in Noida to apprise them of GST and have a discussion with them on the issue.