Government plans to invoke Goondas Act to curb bill trading

It will amend Tamil Nadu Goods and Services Tax Act

The Tamil Nadu government will introduce amendments to the Tamil Nadu Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, to bring bill trading under the purview of the Goondas Act, Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy said in the Assembly on Monday. Replying to the debate on the demand for grants, he said duplicate bills produced through bill trading to get input tax credit had caused a revenue loss to the government. So far, 371 taxable persons had been identified and action had been taken under the Tamil Nadu Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. “Further beneficiaries who have availed themselves of input tax credit are being identified, and action is taken by way of blocking the wrongly availed credit and the amount is collected with penalty and interest.” He announced a plan to amend the Indian Christian Marriage Registration Act, 1872, to simplify the procedure for certification. So far, the certificates can be obtained only from the office of the Inspector-General of Registration in Chennai. The amendment will pave the way for distributing them at the nine zonal offices.