EPCH ORGANISED WEBINAR ON GST – MINIMISING TAX BURDEN AND INTERPRETING LATEST CHANGES IN GST

New Delhi – 3rd May 2020 – Amidst lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, handicrafts exporters are facing various difficulties which include liquidity crunch due to cancellation of orders and non-receipt of payments, wages to workers, interest payments, rentals, miscellaneous expenditure etc. The exporters have also been facing problems of refund of GST and various other compliances with respect to GST.

In order to apprise the members exporters regarding various reliefs in terms of filing of GST returns and also to answer queries of the member exporters, a webinar was organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts on 1st May, 2020.

The key speakers of the webinar were Mr. Dheeraj Rastogi [IRS], Joint Secretary, GST Network and Mr. Manoj Goyal, Chartered Accountant, M/s RHMS & Company.

The webinar was also attended by Shri Ravi K. Passi, Chairman – EPCH, Shri Raj Kumar Malhotra, Vice Chairman – EPCH, Mr. K.L. Ramesh, exporter from Bangalore, Mr. Naresh Bothra exporter from Jodhpur, Shri Rakesh Kumar, DG-EPCH and Shri R.K. Verma, ED –EPCH.

The webinar was participated by over 400 exporters from all over the country who posed various questions to the eminent speakers during the webinar.

Mr. Manoj Goyal, Chartered Accountant said that every difficult situation also bring an opportunity while referring to the situation arisen out of outbreak of COVID-19 and while making presentation provided information on the various amendments which have been made by the GST council during the past one month to facilitate exporters. Certain provisions which he highlighted during his presentation included zero rated supply of goods, 1.5 times value clause, GST 2A filing, requirement of HS codes, provisions in case of advance received and use of Aadhar for new businesses and many more.

Mr. Dheeraj Rastogi [IRS], Joint Secretary, GST Network said that change in dates for filing have been brought out to give to the benefits to the exporting community in the time of COVID-19. He also clarified the decision taken by the Govt. of India regarding HSN codes and value of exports to domestic and International markets. He further clarified that any mismatch which is occurring on account of risky Exporter, despite having an NOC, is facing problem of shipment, the matter has to be rooted through DG ARM so that there is proper connect between the field formations of the customs and the GST Commissionerate.

Shri R.K. Passi, Chairman – EPCH while speaking on the occasion said though this is very difficult time for every country in the world and India as well but said that time will change soon as countries in European Union are reopening their businesses and Indian Government after an thoughtful decision have also decided to reopen the industry.

Mr. R.K. Malhotra, Vice Chairman, EPCH, Mr. Naresh Bothra, M/s Bothra International, Jodhpur, Mr. K.L. Ramesh, M/s Vijay Lakshmi Agarbathi works, Bangalore and Mr. R.K. Verma, ED – EPCH also expressed their views on the subject.

In the end, the expert Mr. Dheeraj Rastogi and Mr. Manoj Goyal, Chartered Accountant answered all the questions of the participants and webinar ended with offering thank to the expert, panellists and participants.