GST: NIC given Rs 40 crore to implement E-Way bill system: Bihar

"Today, in our GoM meeting, we discussed regarding implementation of national e-way bill system under Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The work has been assigned to the National Informatics Centre (NIC)," he told reporters here.

As much as Rs 40 crore advance has been given to NIC to implement the e-way bill mechanism, he said, after chairing a meeting of Group of Ministers, constituted to monitor and resolve IT related challenges faced in implementation of GST.

The system will be launched across country on a trial basis from January 15, 2018, Modi said.

The rules for implementation of the nationwide e-Way Bill system for inter-state movement of goods on a compulsory basis would be notified with effect from February 1, 2018, he said.

Asked why the e-way bill mechanism was not assigned to Infosys, Modi said "this decision was taken earlier. The GST Council decides on assigning task to any agency."

He, however, refused to comment on BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for replacement of GSTN with a government-owned structure.

Swamy had raised strong objections to a majority stake for private entities in the company formed during the UPA regime to manage and control accounting and collection of GST.

GSTN, a not-for-profit private limited company, provides the technology backbone for the collection of taxes and filing of returns in the new indirect tax regime and Infosys has developed the software for the same.

Modi said the e-way bill was launched under a pilot project in Karnataka on September 12, under which more than 1.20 lakh e-way bills were generated every day.

"When it will be launched nationally, about 8 to 9 lakhs e-way bills will be generated at inter-state level and about 30 lakh at intra-state level, per day," he said.

Like GSTN, an online platform for filing taxes and returns, the GoM will monitor its implementation and addressing problems cropping up therein, Modi said.

Modi also said that the GoM is fully satisfied with the functioning of Infosys and GSTN network, which is reflected in the number of complaints dropping down.

He said GSTN has started functioning with less complaints pouring in.

"The number of complaints have been reduced by 80 per cent. At present, there is only 20 per cent of complaints, which shows the system has started functioning," he said.

The smooth functioning of GSTN can also be gauged in the increase of returns filed and invoices processed, Modi said.

"As of now, as many as 65 crore invoices have been processed and more than 3. 25 crore returns filed till date, and as many as 1.40 crore payment transactions have taken place. This shows the (smooth) functioning of GSTN," he added.

The main emphasis of GoM is to make filings under GSTN as simplified as possible, Modi said.

"In July, zero tax liability stood at 42 per cent. In August, it dropped down to 32 per cent. It further dropped down to 30 per cent in October," he said.

Modi also said due to GSTN filings, exports have increased by 30.6 per cent in November.

As many as 24 out of 30 export sectors reported growth, but the gems and jewellery sector is facing problems due to GSTN and GST issues, Modi said.

The sector, however, has reported a growth of 32.7 per cent for November, he said.

Modi said the revenue shortfall was not because of GSTN problems, but for deferment of launch of e-way bill mechanism.

To a query, he said states have started to get compensation every two months for losing revenues due to implementation of GST.