HYDERABAD: The Commercial Tax department officials are cracking down on those not carrying an e-Waybill and evading Goods and Services Tax (GST). The department has now started levying fines amounting to the taxes being evaded, this is in addition to the tax evaded.
As part of the crackdown, the department on Tuesday conducted raids at Medchal and booked cases against 20 GST defaulters. The tax department officials have found out that the traders are resorting to new ways to beat the system.
e-way bills are to be carried for transporting goods that have a combined value of Rs 50,000 or more. The transporter only needs to carry an invoice or delivery challan, if the goods being transported are below Rs 50,000. A team headed by GL Narasimham, assistant commissioner, Medchal Commissionerate, booked 20 cases against various GST related violations. The checks were conducted along the Chiryal-Shamirpet route at Dongalamysamma area. The lowest fine for e-waybill violation is fixed at Rs 10,000. If the tax being evaded is found to be higher than the initial fine amount, the tax evader will have to pay the amount being evaded as fines. In addition to this, the tax evader will also have to pay the tax amount being evaded. The taxmen seize the vehicle if the tax and penalty amounts are not paid on the spot.
Officials observed that some traders are not making e-waybills while transporting goods, some are ignorant but some are evidently trying to evade tax. Medium traders are producing e-waybills, but are often found to be transporting more quantity than mentioned in bill.
Some traders are found to be declaring less value for the goods they are transporting to evade GST. For instance, a Rs 100 bucket is passed off as Rs 10 item on the e-waybill.
Since only invoices are required for goods below Rs 50,000, some traders are producing the same invoice for multiple vehicles. The officials at the road checks take pictures and analyse the e-waybill for further action.