‘Indirect taxes should be merged in GST’     

All indirect taxes should be merged in the proposed goods and services tax (GST), senior Supreme Court Advocate and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Y P Trivedi, said here.

“All indirect taxes including octroi and entertainment tax should be merged in the proposed goods and services tax (GST). The Government is keen to bring GST to reduce litigation and bring down hardship caused to people because of various indirect taxes, '' Mr Trivedi said on the sidelines of a press meet here today.

The goods and services tax (GST) is a comprehensive value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services. GST, expected to be implemented next year, would see greater revenue coming to the exchequer, Mr Trivedi said, adding that octroi has to be removed as it is a great bottleneck in the country.

Meanwhile, Asia-Oceania Tax Consultants Association (AOTCA) in association with All India Federation of Tax Practitioners (AIFTP) is organising its first International Tax Conference from November 19-21 in Mumbai.

The conference would offer better understanding of international taxation and India's role and responsibility on the global platform, Mr Trivedi said.

Source : Hindu Business Line, India, dated 18/11/2009