CBEC SAMUDHRA MANTHAN...

The outcome of the two-day Annual Conference of CBEC Chief Commissioners and DGs, held in New Delhi on the 24^th & 25^th August, 2015, with respect to the field structure of the Commissionerates is as follows :-

Ø The present territorial jurisdiction is going to be retained in most of the cases. The three-tier system of Commissionerate, Division & Ranges would survive. And the territorial jurisdiction of CGST Commissionerates would be co-terminous with the States.

Ø However, stand-alone Service Tax Commissionerates are going to be rolled back to create a common GST Commissionerate. The CBEC has also proposed to continue the system of Commissioner(Appeals) and to create a National Tribunal with co-ordinate benches in each state capital.

Ø The CGST Commissionerates would also perform functions under the Central Excise Act, 1944, to deal with all legacy issues of Central Excise and Service Tax.

Ø It has also been proposed that 25% of posts in different grades may be filled up by SGST officers on deputation basis and vice-versa.

Ø It has also been proposed that common LTU of indirect and direct taxes may be dismantled and new LTU of indirect taxes alone may be set up.

Let’s hope that all this detailed study and homework done by the CBEC does not go waste and good sense prevails over our political parties which may be reminded that the national interests must supersede their personal and even collective interests.

     The GST balloon must not be sandwiched between two inflated egos; which must not be allowed to grow in size beyond the topography of a nation...

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