There are close to 74,000 CA and four lakh tax practitioners equipped to file GST returns
Now recent pass outs of Bachelor of Commerce besides accounting staff of companies will be roped in for filing monthly returns of GST. The move will not only ease the rush for filing of returns, but also keep a check on parallel economy, say experts.
There are close to 74,000 CA and four lakh tax practitioners equipped to file GST returns. Commerce graduates are far more in number, sources said.
"We will conduct special training sessions for accounting staff and BCom graduates. They will be given a check list of data needed to file returns. Often lack of data at the time of filing return is responsible for expiry of session. They will prepare entire ground work and CA will only have to upload the return," said Shailesh Patwari, president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
According to provisions in GST Act, CA, cost accountants, CS, tax practitioners, advocates, MBA, MCom, BBA and Bcom professionals can file GST returns. Persons holding MBA, BBA, MCom and BCom degrees will have to pass an exam to become GST practitioners independently.
Initially, in Draft Model Act only CA and CMA professionals were eligible for filing of returns and to represent their case on behalf of their clients. It was after Gujarat Sales Tax Bar Association (GSBTA) and GCCI represented to the GST Council earlier during the year that an amendment was made to include other professionals.
Jamnagar-based tax advocate Axat Vyas, instrumental in suggesting the amendment, said a CA can cater to only 300-500 clients. "With just about 74,000 CA in the country, there is no way they can serve the entire business community. Inclusion of other professionals will ensure better and timely compliance."
He also urged local commerce colleges to encourage their students to appear for the exam. Vyas also informed that demand of inclusion of all related tax professionals in all related compliances including GST Audit will help business community and reflect in lower compliance cost.
GCCI will invite companies to send their accounting staff for training sessions. It will also conduct awareness programmes in local colleges to rope in fresh graduates for the programme. With only a limited number of professionals filing returns now, there is a tremendous rush, especially at the eleventh hour resulting in most returns not being filed.
IN NUMBERS
- There are close to 74,000 CA and four lakh tax practitioners equipped to file GST returns.
- According to provisions in GST Act, CA, cost accountants, CS, tax practitioners, advocates, MBA, MCom, BBA and Bcom professionals can file GST returns.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "GST return filing")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}