FinMin unveils amnesty scheme on GST defaults

New Delhi: The Union Finance Ministry has come out with an amnesty scheme for filing appeals against Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand orders. The scheme, which will be open till January 31, 2024, will be available for entities that were unable to submit their appeals against orders issued by the tax officer on or before March 31, 2023, according to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

The CBIC issued a notification with respect to the scheme on Thursday. So far, the GST law allowed an assessee to file an appeal against an assessment order seeking taxes within three months of the tax officer passing such a demand order. This can be extended by one more month. In its last meeting on October 7, the GST Council had approved this amnesty scheme for filing appeals. The entities willing to avail of the scheme will have to pre-deposit 12.5 per cent of the tax demand, against 10 per cent currently.