The Indian government is set to conduct a series of meetings in November aimed at reviewing and streamlining various indirect taxation processes, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST). This move comes as the upcoming budget is a “vote on account” in light of the upcoming general elections next year.

A senior government official revealed that these meetings will encompass not only the GST but also other indirect taxation processes. The focus will be on identifying areas for improvement, assessing current processes, and ensuring greater efficiency. Internal processes, including the functioning of the GSTN portal, ease of filing returns, and addressing any technical glitches, will be thoroughly examined.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) sees this as an opportune time to enhance these processes, considering the unique budget situation. With the absence of a full budget, the government can allocate the necessary time to fine-tune and optimize these procedures.

The review meetings will involve key officials from CBIC, GSTN, and various field units. These gatherings will encompass officials at all levels, from senior leadership to those directly involved in managing the processes.

Notably, the government recorded a 13 percent year-on-year increase in GST collections for October, reaching Rs 1.72 lakh crore, marking the second-highest revenue collection ever.

The objective of these meetings is to ensure that all processes and the GSTN portal are fully prepared for the new financial year when GST collection recommences.

The journey of GST revenue collection has seen remarkable growth since its inception in July 2017, when Rs 95,633 was collected. Over time, despite facing challenges, including a drop to Rs 32,172 in May 2020 during the pandemic, it has now reached Rs 1.72 lakh crore this October. Enhancing GST revenue has been a persistent challenge, with monthly collections struggling to surpass Rs 1 lakh crore. Additionally, the GST system faced criticism from taxpayers in its early years due to backend issues leading to slow portal performance.

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