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The idea to setup stvat.com struck me at a
meeting I addressed to explain the implications of VAT to over
500 delegates. The level of awareness was low and in the meeting
I announced that information on developments relating to VAT
would be made available through the Internet. What was setup as
an Intranet has now grown to be a sought after reference point
for information on VAT. This has been possible only with the
support of our users and Commercial Taxes departments who
encouraged our effort by providing inputs.
Honestly, we had not expected the encouraging
response in terms of a large registered user base. The growing
user base and the profile of the registered users, like
commissioners of Commercial Taxes, leading authorities on
Indirect Taxes and Tax professionals bewildered us. We had to
constantly upgrade the quality of the content and also provide
information on a day to day basis. Though the team at stvat.com
had tried their best, I am quite conscious that stvat.com has
not provided updates as and when fresh developments take place.
As the VAT scene hots up, we shall endeavor
to provide faster updates. On implementation of VAT, we plan to
make available the notifications, circulars, leaflets and
handouts of each of the States.
One more limitation is that I have been
writing most of the articles. I welcome contributions from all
of you so that all of us have the benefit of diverse opinion and
help us to handle the transition to VAT more efficiently.
My association with stvat.com has been a
personally rewarding experience by providing an opportunity to
interact with a number of experts in Indirect Taxes and
officials of Commercial Taxes Departments. Writing for stvat.com
had been a good opportunity update myself and to share with you
my impressions.
One of the main objects of setting up
stvat.com remains unfulfilled. We had initially visualised the
portal as a platform for exchange of ideas and information to
help design a practical VAT. Readers have been hesitant to
express their views. I take this opportunity to call upon the
readers to post in the "Conversation Corner", any
issue on which they may have doubts or apprehensions. Several
top ranking professionals and columnist are registered users of
your portal and may come forward to express their views and
solutions. I would request the Authors, Columnist and Tax
professionals in practice and in employment to write articles
for stvat.com and also respond to the queries posted in the
"Conversation Corner".
Our desire is to gradually increase the
content of the portal to cover all indirect taxes.
To take stvat.com to greater heights,
sponsorship and advertisement support would be helpful. The user
base comprising mainly of taxation professionals, corporate
executives and industrialists from all over India would be an
ideal target of advertisers of Financial products, Credit Cards,
Accounting Software, taxation Journals and Publications,
consumer durables and gift articles. I would request those of
you who would like to use stvat.com to promote their products to
help us with advertisement and sponsorship support. You may
kindly mail to advertise@stvat.com.
As stvat.com steps into the 2nd
year, all the team members are raring to go and provide quality
content.
I welcome your feed back and suggestions for improvement.
Please mail me at sridharan@stvat.com
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