Recommendations for GST Simplification for SMEs

Sr.

Section

Recommendation in Brief

Detailed Recommendation

CGST ACT

1.

2(5), read with 24(vii)

Compulsory Registration required          for

agents              be

clarified as being applicable only to consignment agents

Section 24(vii) requires a compulsory registration in cases where the supplies are made on behalf of other taxable persons. While on a strict legal interpretation, this can cover cases where agents stock goods on behalf of the principal and then supply on their behalf, there is substantial confusion in the trade whether simple brokers or commission agents who merely facilitate a transaction directly between two parties are eligible for threshold or are hit by Section 24(vii), specifically in view of the wide definition of agent provided under Section 2(5). It is suggested that either an amendment in Section 24(vii) be carried out to restrict the scope to cases of consignment agents stocking and supplying goods on behalf of principal or a suitable clarification be issued in this regard.

2

2(6),      2(112),

read with 22

Registration Threshold should be          determined not only on the basis                 of

aggregate turnover but also on the basis of turnover in the State

Section 22 requires every person to register in each of the States from where he makes a supply of his aggregate turnover exceeds the threshold of Rs. 20 lakhs. Therefore once the aggregate turnover threshold is breached at an all India level, his registration requirement is triggered not only in the States where his turnover is high, but even in States where he has negligible turnover.

It is therefore recommended that along with the aggregate turnover criteria of Rs. 20 lakhs, another criteria of ‘turnover in a State’ be introduced for mandatory registration requirement. This second threshold may be kept at a lower level of Rs. 5 lakhs.

The prescription of twin tests for registration will result in significant reduction in compliance burden and will also open up the SME Sector to undertake one-off supplies in other States, which business opportunities are foregone today by them due to multiple registration requirements

3.

9(3) read with 24(iii)

Reverse Charge Mechanism in case of notified goods                      and services

The intention of reverse charge mechanism is to shift the compliance burden from unorganised sector to the organised sector. However, in view of Section 24(iii), what happens is practically the opposite. A very small trader having turnover of outward supplies of Rs. 10 lakhs is also required to register if he pays transport charges of Rs. 5,000/-.

Therefore, it is suggested that either Section 24(iii) be deleted in toto (thereby triggering a registration requirement only in case of exceeding of aggregate turnover of outward supplies) or an alternative threshold of Rs. 5,00,000/- be provided and only if the value of inward supplies on which reverse charge is applicable exceeds this limit, Section 24(iii) should become operational.

4.

9(4)

Reverse    Charge Mechanism     for procurement from unregistered dealers

This is one provision which resulted in lot of practical difficulties especially for the SME. The GST Council wisely suspended the said provisions and suitable amendment is proposed in the GST Act to restrict the said provisions to notified cases only.

It is strongly suggested that the provision stays suspended in toto and no notification be issued in this regard.

5.

10

Composition Scheme     to    be extended         for service providers

The current composition scheme is applicable only for manufacturers, traders and restaurant service providers. It is recommended that the scheme be made applicable to service providers as well with a lower threshold of say Rs. 50 lakhs. A concessional rate of 5% may be prescribed without any input tax credit.

6

16(2),         read

with             the

Proposed Return     Filing Process

Input Tax Credit should not be denied merely on the grounds of non matching of credits

While the concerns of the Government in insisting on the ITC matching can be understood, the proposed return filing process denying provisional credit will hit the SME Sector very badly since large organisations may insist on retaining some money from the vendors till the credits are reflected in their returns (This can happen after 3 months since the SME sector will be filing quarterly returns). This can adversely affect the cash flow situation of SME Sector.

7

17(2) & 17(3)

Requirement    of Proportionate Reversal attributable       to exempted supplies     to    be done away with where exempted supplies are less than      5%      of aggregate turnover

As a trade facilitation measure, it be provided that the provisions of Section 17(2) and 17(3) will not apply where the value of exempted supply is less than 5% of the aggregate turnover. While this will not result in major revenue loss, it will result in a substantial simplification where the proportion of exempted supplies is minimal

8

2(68), 19 & 143

Clarification that the provisions of job work are optional

Under the Excise Regime, the taxable event was manufacture. Further, input credit was allowed only on inputs received in the factory. Therefore, the job work provisions were relevant and facilitated transactions and also provided documentary control.

Under the GST Regime which is transaction based and credits are freely available, these provisions do not really seem relevant and create confusion. Further, the definition of job work and the prescribed procedures result in these provisions restricting transactions rather than facilitating them.

It may therefore be clarified that the said provisions are optional in nature.

9

25(8) read with

Rule 10(3)

Delayed Registration to be effective from the date of liability rather    than    the date                  of

application

If the person fails to apply for registration within 30 days from the date he becomes liable, the registration is granted with effect from the date of application. This results in undue hardships for the ‘open period’ between the date of liability and the date of application. It is recommended that in the initial phases of GST, the registration may be granted with effect from the date of liability or in the alternative, a mechanism for grant of administrative relief in genuine cases may be introduced.

10

54 read with Rules 89, 96 and 96A

Refund Process needs substantial simplification

Despite the best intentions of the Government, substantial working capital of exporters is still blocked due to refund related issues. Major simplification is required in this front. A simpler solution could be to permit an exporter full input

tax credit (as is currently permitted) and a refund

upto a particular percentage of the export proceeds (say 9% of export proceeds) by way of direct debit in the Electronic Credit Ledger (subject to balance in the said ledger) with no additional documentation or paper work. It may be noted that this would substantially benefit the SME and would not result in leakages since what is refunded is only what is lying the ECrL.

11

68    read        with Rule 138

E-Way           Bill Process need to be simplified and clarified

While the objective of the eWay Bill System is laudable, some simplification is required in this regard. It may be important to continue eWay Bills only for interstate movements and not insist on eWay Bills for intrastate movements. Further, in case of hand deliveries or goods carried in person in a public transport, it may be clarified that eWay Bills are not required.

12

Payment and Return Process for SMEs

For SMEs, not only filing of returns            but

payments       also should      be     at quarterly frequency

Having monthly payment and quarterly returns does not ease any compliance burden on the SME. It is therefore recommended that both the processes being interlinked with each other, should be made quarterly for SMEs.