‘Gujarat lost Rs.52,394cr to GST evasion in 7 yrs’
Ahmedabad: Since the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017, Gujarat has uncovered a staggering Rs 52,394 crore in GST evasion. The Union finance ministry recently presented the data in Parliament, covering the period from 2017 to June 2024. The state and central GST departments continue to face significant challenges in combating tax evasion, despite efforts to simplify return filing, attract new taxpayers and improve the business environment.
In all, 13,494 cases have been registered in connection with bogus billing scams, resulting in substantial losses for the exchequer. Over the past seven years, the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) and CGST departments have arrested 214 individuals, including the masterminds behind these scams.
An SGST official, requesting anonymity, said, “With an increasing number of GST scams being reported in Gujarat, the state GST department has taken necessary action and proactive measures to curb the incidents of fake billing and consequent GST evasion. To combat these issues, both state and central GST departments have launched a statewide drive to apprehend scammers. In a significant move, Gujarat piloted a project requiring biometric verification to issue new GST Identification Numbers (GSTINs). This initiative has effectively closed a major loophole and reduced the number of new registration applications.”
