Punjab - Industry forums up in arms against sales tax
department
All trade and industrial associations of Punjab have
decided not to file the Value Added Tax (VAT) returns
for the first quarter on the amended VAT forms. To
protest these forms, the industrialists today observed a
day long hunger strike at the cycle market. They also
claimed to have formed a ‘lathi brigade’ to protect
their rights. Though the state excise and taxation
department is considering to extend the date of filing
the returns by a fortnight, the traders don’t seem
convinced with the move. The last date for filing
returns is July 20.
The industrialists said they will file returns only on
the old forms and the latest amended notification of 23 and 24 number forms will
not be filled by any of the members. Narinder Bhamra, convenor of the
association said: “The amended form ask details of each and every variety from
nuts and bolts to karyana items, among others. This is not possible. Earlier we
used to submit the amount of the bill. This is a cumbersome process that we will
not follow and are ready for any action.” The industry is unhappy despite the
excise department having reduced the number of products on the list from 1,847
to just 87 items.
“These 87 items cover steel, bicycle, bicycle parts, auto parts which trouble a
large part of the industrialists. So withdrawal should be for one and all “,
said KK Garg, another member of the association.
Apart from this, the traders also condemned the recent raids conducted by the
excise and taxation department in the nut and bolt market. “ Instead of bringing
the police along, they should take the association members in confidence. They
pressurise our industry members and put ‘wrong’ penalty on them. We also will
pressurise them through our newly formed ‘lathi brigade’ and will make them run
away in case they follow pressure tactics,” said Bhamra. After the hunger
strike, the industrialists will chalk out their next strategy soon so as to
decide about the further plan of protest, said members of the All industries
forum.
Sales tax dept to blame for billing scam: Members
The forum members blamed the staff of the sales tax department for the Rs 20,000
crores bogus billing scam. Bhamra said: “The staff did not bother to see the
bills amounting to more than Rs 20,000 crore and now the genuine industrialists
are also being trapped. The recent list of 5500 `tainted’ companies released by
department is another source of trouble for the industrialists. They are
delaying VAT refunds by releasing such lists.”
