Madurai, Apr 1 (KNN) The Agro Food Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the positive and proactive move by the government to launch Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Goods and Services Tax (GST) investigations ahead of of the Appellate Tribunal. 

“It is heartening to note that the Revenue Department of the central government is in the process of finalising an SOP for officers undertaking intelligence and investigation works before the establishment of GST Appellate Tribunal,” said President of Agro Food Chamber of Commerce and Industry, S Rethinavelu.

The Agro chamber pointed out that this is the only way to clear the conundrum created by the hasty and haphazard implementation of the progressive taxation system of GST. 

“Issuance of hundreds of notifications, clarifications, amendments and FAQs under the GST in the nearly six-year-old indirect tax regime has made this Taxation Act more complicated and difficult to understand, even for the officials implementing it," he added.  

He added that the wrong interpretations of law given by the officials while intercepting the goods vehicles during wee hours and collecting penalties from uneducated drivers, in the absence of either the consignor or the consignee, has made the transport of goods a nightmare. 

"Innocent traders are made to pay heavy penalties through their noses for no fault of theirs, which has made many micro and small enterprises run away from business activities. Levying a penalty illegally is nothing short of bribery. Penal actions should be taken against such officials," the chamber said.

The Agro chamber suggested that government should finalise the SOPs in consultation with the trade and industry across the country.  (KNN Bureau)