Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday underscored the urgent need to make the GST system "faceless" and transparent to reduce harassment and improve compliance. Speaking at the third Accounting Standard Day organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Gupta revealed that GST dues worth Rs 80,000 crore remain pending for the Delhi government due to various disputes and procedural delays.
"Make our system faceless. Tax should be collected in a hassle-free manner," Gupta said, urging GST officers not to summon businesspeople to their offices if the individuals are already appearing in court. Her remarks come amid growing concerns from the business community about the complexities and administrative burden of GST procedures.
The Chief Minister hailed the Chartered Accountant (CA) community for its pivotal role in India's tax and economic ecosystem. "Only the CA community can help resolve all these issues," she stated, referring to the long-pending GST dues and urging the profession to actively assist in dispute resolution and awareness-building.
Reflecting on her tenure, Gupta recalled her first budget presentation as CM, which marked a milestone with a Rs 1 lakh crore budget despite near-empty state coffers. "People asked who this CM was who presented such a big budget. I had faith in this community that they would help the government meet the target," she remarked.
Gupta also extended congratulations to ICAI on Accounting Standard Day and encouraged professionals to continue educating citizens on the importance of tax compliance. "Your community is the one that makes people understand how important it is to pay taxes," she said.
Her address signals a potential shift in Delhi's tax administration, with a focus on transparency, trust-building, and tech-driven governance.
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