Deptt of State Taxes Intensifies Field Enforcements Drives against Tax Evasions, Constitute Flying Squads

Over Rs 60 lakh penalty levied on tax evaders in last 10 days

JAMMU, December 23: Jammu and Kashmir State Taxes department constituted flying squads headed by senior officers to discourage tax evasionand ensure compliance within their purview at any time of the day to curb tax evasions within the mandate of Goods and Service Tax, Stamps Act and Motor Spirit Tax.

As per an order issued by Commissioner State Taxes, Dr Rashmi Singh, IAS, eight flying squads (four each for Jammu and Kashmir divisions) headed by senior officers of the department constituted to oversee ongoing enforcement drive.

The squads also mandated to conduct market inspections to oversee the functioning of the department on the ground.

The department has imposed over Rs 60 lakh penalty on vehicles for not possessing proper documents required for transportation of goods in last 10 days during a special enforcement drive.

Officials said that day and night checking were carried out by all seven enforcement wings of the department across Jammu and Kashmir under the instructions of Commissioner State Taxes, Dr Rashmi Singh.

The drives were closely monitored under supervision of Additional Commissioner, State Taxes Administration & Enforcement, Jammu, Namrita Dogra and Additional Commissioner State Taxes Administration & Enforcement, Kashmir Shakeel Maqbool.

As per the department’s spokesperson, Deputy Commissioners of Enforcement Wings constituted different teams headed by Assistant Commissioners or State Tax Officers (STO) for enforcement activities, emphasis on the checking against the conveyances carrying goods without proper tax invoices, e-way bills etc.

During the extensive enforcement drive, total 8387 vehicles were intercepted across Jammu & Kashmir and 132 cases of discrepancies like non-compliance of e-way Bill record, movement of goods with the cover of invoices, quantity mismatch, e-invoicing/ e waybill post interception of vehicle, fake GST number in the invoice were noticed during the physical inspections of these vehicles.

“Out of total cases, 117 cases have been finalized and penalty amounting to Rs 63.59 lakhs was imposed. 15 cases are still under process of scrutiny,” the spokesperson said.

The officials added that illegal movement of commodities like iron scrap, mixed scrap, cements, bricks, footwear, hardware, bathroom accessories, TMT Bars, readymade garment, furniture, timber, E-auto rikshaw, shawls, marbles etc has been noticed in the non-compliant cases.

Moreover, during extensive market check enforcement teams inspected 266 GSTIN registered premises, 70 dealers found to be non-compliant in terms of non-issuance of invoices, non-specifying additional place of business. In addition to these 101 dealers who had crossed the threshold of registration were found unregistered and action has been initiated against them under GST Act.

The department said that multiple QR codes linked with various accounts not in business name are also under scrutiny.