Srinagar, May 18: In the face of severe criticism to the new VAT return form, the government today said it was open “for further discussion to arrive at a consensus with the traders in this regard.”
 Maintaining that the new form had “various good things beneficial for the traders in the long run” minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather said still the government was open for further discussion in this regard to arrive at a consensus.
 He said J&K was not only state where the new form had been introduced. “It has been done throughout the country including in our neighbouring states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.”
 Speaking at a high level meeting with representatives of various traders’ bodies of Kashmir and senior officials of Excise and Taxation Department here today, the minister, according to an official statement, said that computerization of the department aimed to mitigate traders’ hardships.
 “It would minimise direct interface between traders and functionaries of the Excise Department as they could now file their Returns and other transactions on line while sitting at home,” he said.
 “This modern intervention will also bring transparency in the functioning of the department and check to a great extent incidents of corrupt practices as traders won’t need to visit government offices,” he added.
 Maintaining that government wanted to remove all difficulties and hurdles confronting traders, he said introduction of computerization in Commercial Taxes Department “is a landmark step in this direction.”
 The representatives demanded the government should take all the stakeholders on board before introducing the new VAT return form.
 Responding to the arguments of some traders, the Minister dispelled apprehension that government was not concerned about their welfare. He said the VAT regime had been introduced in good faith keeping in view the interests of both government as well as traders’ fraternity.
 The minister reaffirmed government’s “firm commitment” to provide congenial atmosphere to the trade and industry to give boost to economic activities in J&K.
 Traders’ representatives who participated in the meeting included President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) Nazir Ahmed Dar, General Secretary KCCI Aftab Ahmed Trumboo, President Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Afaq Qadri, General Secretary FCIK Nazir Ahmed Shikar, Patron Kashmir Traders and Manufactures’ Federation (KTMF), Muhammad Sadiq Baqal.
 The government was represented by Commissioner Secretary Finance, Sudhanshu Panday, Commissioner Commercial Taxes, G A Peer, Additional Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Central, Showkat Ahmed.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 IST