Opposition Ruled States Dragging their Feet on Passing State GST Law, PM

As on date, 24 States/UTs have passed the SGST laws. The remaining States which are yet to pass the legislation are Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

On 5th June, 2017, the Prime Minister reviewed the preparedness for the roll out of GST. The review meeting focused on steps being taken for smooth launching of the new taxation system, information, educational and communication plan, mechanism for query handling, IT readiness, hand holding of taxpayers, sensitization of senior officers of Central/State Governments, media plan, etc.

CBEC Reorganizes Field Formations

Notification Nos. 12 to 14/2017- Central Excise (NT) were issued on 9 June and shall come into effect on a date to be notified later. These notifications seek to appoint officers of various ranks as Central Excise Officers and assign them a jurisdiction different from the present one. This will empower legacy work of central excise and service tax as well as the fresh central excise work in the post GST regime. For legacy work, the new Commissionerates will have jurisdiction over the existing Central Excise and Service Tax registrants as per new jurisdiction.

These jurisdictions will also be notified for GST separately by invoking powers under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. Thus the intent is that when GST comes into force, these new Central Excise and Service Tax jurisdictions will be co-terminus with the GST jurisdictions.

The Judicial Wing of the CBEC will communicate the revised composition of the Review Committees. The Legal Wing will also intimate the Commissioners who will be competent to file counter affidavits, on account of the proposed revision in jurisdictions.