Despite a robust increase in monthly GST collections, the Revenue department is intensifying efforts to ensure it meets the collection targets for the fiscal year. The GST department has issued directives to officers nationwide, urging them to redouble their efforts to achieve the current year's GST revenue target. According to sources, officers of all grades have been instructed to refrain from taking leave until March 31 unless faced with an emergency.
However, this directive has met with resistance from some officers within the department. Many express dismay that in an era of advanced digital technology, GST officers are being compelled to curtail their routine leaves.
"We are navigating through a transformed India, a digital India, where GST compliance has fully transitioned online, with plans to digitalize assessments and litigation in the coming years. Despite these advancements, it’s concerning to observe that leading GST offices across the state are instructing tax officers to 'minimize routine leaves until March 31, 2024' until they achieve their revenue quotas," remarked a concerned official.
Experts view this approach as indicative of certain GST offices clinging to traditional, inflexible practices as the financial year draws to a close, potentially undermining the spirit of fairness in tax collection.
Highlighting the need for a more balanced approach in tax administration, experts emphasize principles of fairness, efficiency, and transparency to ensure the tax system remains equitable and supportive of taxpayer needs. The government aims to collect Rs 9.6 lakh crore in FY24, as per revised estimates. In January, the gross GST revenue stood at Rs 1.72 lakh crore, marking a 10.4% year-on-year increase.
As tension simmers within the GST department over meeting revenue targets, questions arise about the compatibility of traditional tax administration practices with the evolving landscape of digital transformation.
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