Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the State government will take up with the Centre the issue of small traders getting GST notices from the Commercial Taxes Department for transactions through UPI. He also made it clear that the issue would be discussed with the State Commercial Taxes Department before making a decision in this regard.
“The Goods and Sales Tax (GST) Council comes under the purview of the Centre. However, the State government will take up the matter with the Union government and discuss it with the State’s Commercial Taxes Department, and take a decision,” Mr. Siddaramaiah told presspersons in Mysuru.
It may be noted that a section of the small and micro traders in the State have taken exception to getting notices with respect to taxes based on their transactions via UPI.
Meanwhile, asking the small traders not to worry about the GST-related notices, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar accused the Union government of creating trouble for small traders and street vendors by introducing GST.
“Notices are being issued to those who are conducting business of over ₹40 lakh,” he said in Hoskote, near here, where an event was organised to distribute government benefits. He said: “This is the achievement of the Union government. The traders do not have to worry. We will take necessary actions to protect their interests.”
The Deputy Chief Minister said though the State had appealed to the Centre several times seeking funds over the last two years, the BJP MPs are not speaking. “They are not concerned about the poor in the State.”
Accusing the BJP of not doing enough, he said that the Congress government was committed to getting Yettinahole waters to Bengaluru North district before 2027 and the government had decided to prepare a DPR to bring metro to Hoskote. “We will ensure it is approved during our term.”
Mr. Shivakumar also pointed out that the government had taken steps to regularise B-khata properties in Bengaluru, and that over a crore patta khatas are being given to Scheduled Tribes.
