On the 10th and 11th of April 2024, the All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants (AGFTC) and the Income Tax Bar Association (ITBA), Ahmedabad, encountered significant challenges with the GST portal's functionality. In this letter addressed to Hon'ble Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister, they emphasize the critical nature of the issue and the impact it has on taxpayers and tax practitioners.

Also Read: GST recommends Extension of GSTR-1 due date to 12th April 2024

All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants
Income Tax Bar Association

To
Hon'ble Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman
Honorable Finance Minister
Ministry of Finance
134, North Block, Parliament Street
New Dehi – 110001
fmo@nic.in

We, All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants (AGFTC) and Income Tax Bar Association (ITBA), Ahmedabad are writing to bring to your attention a significant issue that occurred on 10th and 11th April 2024, regarding the non-functioning of the GST portal that directly affects taxpayers and tax practitioners, necessitating your kind consideration.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal is platform for taxpayers to comply with various GST-related requirements, including filing returns, making payments, and availing input tax credit. However, on the aforementioned dates, the GST portal experienced prolonged periods of downtime and instability, preventing taxpayers from accessing crucial functionalities.

This unexpected outage has resulted in several adverse consequences, including:

1. Inability to file GST returns within the prescribed deadlines, leading to potential penalties and compliance issues.
2. Delay in claiming input tax credit due to non-reflection of Tax credit in GSTR 2B, impacting cash flows and increasing the financial burden on businesses.
3. Disruption in business operations and loss of productivity due to the time spent attempting to access the non-responsive portal.
4. Frustration and inconvenience experienced by taxpayers, eroding trust and confidence in the GST system.

Given the critical nature of the GST portal in facilitating compliance and ensuring the smooth functioning of the GST regime, such instances of downtime are highly detrimental to taxpayers and the overall economy. It is imperative that the GST portal maintains optimal performance and reliability to safeguard the interests of taxpayers and promote ease of doing business.

In light of the above, we on behalf of AGFTC & ITBA respectfully urge the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs to take prompt action to address the issues plaguing the GST portal and prevent recurrence of such disruptions in the future. Additionally, we request the board to provide timely updates and transparent communication to stakeholder regarding the steps taken to rectify the technical issues and improve the overall performance of the portal.

As a responsible tax practitioner, we are committed to complying with GST obligations diligently. However, we appeal for the cooperation and support of the authorities in ensuring a robust and efficient GST infrastructure that facilitates seamless compliance for all stakeholders.

Thank you for considering this representation. We trust that appropriate measures will be taken to address the concerns raised and enhance the reliability of the GST portal for the benefit of the taxpayer community.

Yours sincerely,

For All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants

For Income Tax Bar Association

CC: 
To
The Chairman
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Custom
New Delhi – 110001
chmn-cbic@gov.in

To
The Secretary,
GST Council, 5th Floor,
Tower II, Jeevan Bhuti Building, Janpath Road,
Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001.
gstc.secretariat@gov.in