CAIT seeks further GST simplification, says monthly collections have risen sevenfold since rollout
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India]: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Sunday called for further simplification of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, arguing that while tax collections have risen sharply since its introduction in 2017, compliance challenges at the ground level continue to burden traders.
Speaking at CAIT's installation ceremony in Bhubaneswar, the traders' body said GST has emerged as a major revenue generator for the government, with monthly collections increasing from around Rs 40,000 crore in the initial years to over Rs 2 lakh crore currently. However, it maintained that administrative practices need to be made more trader-friendly to improve ease of doing business.
CAIT National Chairman Brij Mohan Agrawal said the organisation has consistently advocated reforms that benefit the trading community and has been raising issues related to GST for years.
"After GST came, many departments have closed. Customs, Central Excise, all have been removed," Agrawal said, adding that government tax collections have increased significantly since the indirect tax reform was implemented.
While acknowledging efforts by the government to simplify the tax system, he said traders continue to face difficulties in its implementation.
"The government says that GST has been simplified. But we want more simplification," Agrawal said. "I have complete faith that the GST will increase as much as you allow them to work."
