Traders body CAIT has demanded that the first nine months of GST implementation in the current fiscal should be treated as a trial period and no penal action should be levied against traders except for habitual offenders.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to make a categorical announcement for countrywide implementation of GST starting July 1.

It said any more deferment of the GST will defuse the sanctity and importance of one of the largest indirect taxation reforms in the country.

However, CAIT has also said that period between July and March next year should be treated as a trial period and no penal action should be levied against traders except for habitual offenders.

They expressed concern that though GST is slated to be implemented from July 1, still a large group of traders across the country need to be educated and empowered with basic fundamentals of the GST.

A large number of small businesses are yet to adopt computerisation and digital technologies to become GST-compliant.

Source: Tribune India