Role of CS in Goods and Service Tax

Hi Purna,

I don't see any positive role of a CS in GST upcoming. What I found CS involved in more corporate compliance than taxation and aligned matters. Even for a practicing CS also I don't see or I am unable to see any scope of CS.

This is just my view and experience which can always be wrong because I can not decide a spectrum of any professional.  Actually no body can!

 Indirect taxes/GST would be more laws compared to computation to tax, it is easiest for the Company Secretary to understand and be an expert in the subject of Indirect Taxes/ GST. Company secretary can play an important role being an advisor and facilitator for due compliance of laws relating to Indirect Taxes/goods and Service Tax( GST) to the general business community and corporate world as well. The company secretary can perform the following types of services to clients:-

(i) Advisory services or strategic advisor – A company secretary can better interpret the law of Indirect taxes or proposed GST law and provide comprehensive guidance and advisory to the business. Company secretary are more suited for the services because for their knowledge of laws and good communication skills

(ii) Tax Planning – Company secretary is competent to understand the impact of laws and its various alternatives based on the proper tax planning of indirect taxes/GST.

(iii) Procedural Compliances – Procedure Compliance includes registration, filing of returns, payments of taxes, assessment etc. the procedure compliance is the easiest task because Company Secretary is already playing a role of Compliance Officer under various other laws.

(iv) Book/Record Keeping Like other tax laws indirect taxes/ GST would require proper record keeping and accounting systematic records of credit of input/input service and its proper utilisation is necessary for this REFERENCER ON GOODS AND SERVICES TAX 103 success of GST. Company secretary must learn and equipped to perform this tasks and it is easy because CS course have all the subjects.

(v) Representation – Company Secretary can provide this service with confidence because of practical exposure with various competent authorities. Company secretary can better justify this service.

(vi) Appellate work Because of legal drafting skill, the Company Secretary can provide better service in the appellate work.

Sir, the scope of practice in GST  is delibrately restricted or ignored to PCS. When a CA is appointed to certify 'Reconciliation Statement' under the gise of audit of accounts , the business people does not appoint others to handle GST matters..Thus Indirectly entry is prohibited to PCS.. 

The 'Reconciliation Statement' can be easily certified by CS. It can be opened to all Practicng Professionals. But the Officials are very clever enough to reserve it exclusively to CAs under the pretext of audit of accounts,  .

 GST law  is complex and requires  sound legal knowledge to understand and to interprete for proper reporting/certifying. CAs may lack such sound knowledge  to understand and to interprete it if you say CS are not for accounts and audit.