The Central Government has waived off late fee and interest imposed on traders who have failed to file Goods and Services Tax Returns since August due to uncertainty in Kashmir after abrogation of J&K’s special status.
According to officials of J&K Taxes Department,government has issued an order waiving off late fee and interest for the periodfrom August 20 to December 20, 2019.
According to official data, around 60 percent Kashmir tradershaven’t been able to file their Returns since August due to uncertainty andcontinued internet blockade.
Speaking to GreaterKashmir, Commissioner J&K Taxes Department, PK Bhat, said, “Centralgovernment has issued notification by virtue of which date for filing GSTReturns in J&K have been extended till December 20.”
“In a day or two, GST portal which will be updated followingwhich whoever files GST Returns for the period from August 20 to December 20will not be charged any late fee or interest,” Bhat said, adding, “Whoever haspaid late fee for this period, will be reimbursed.”
He added that Taxes department would keep all itsfacilitation centres open on Sunday and also 11 J&K Bank branches whichoperate near Taxes department’s facilitation centres will also remain open.
Taxes department has opened facilitation centres acrossKashmir to facilitate hassle filing of GST returns in view of the internetblockade in Kashmir which is in place from August 5 – the day when the Centralgovernment revoked J&K special status and bifurcated the State into twounion territories.
The Taxes department last week ordered generation of e-waybills of those traders who have filed returns till July but failed to filereturns for August, September and October months.