GSTN to find cause for dip in revenue: Sushil Kumar Modi

Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) would conduct an audit to find out the reasons for a revenue shortfall in some states across the country, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and chairman of GSTNGroup of Ministers (GoM) SushilKumarModisaid Saturday.

Speaking to reporters after the 10th meeting of GSTN GoM here, he said there are six states, including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and Kashmir, Bihar, and Uttarakhand facing a shortfall in revenue.

The Central government is addressing the problem of a revenue shortfall, which has gone down from 17 percent to 13 percent until July, he said. In Bihar, revenue went down from 42 percent to 20 percent; in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and TamilNadu, there was hardly a 3 to 4 percent shortfall, he pointed out.

The total number of returns filed underGSTso far was Rs 15.71crore; the number of payment transactions made underGSTwas Rs 5.35crore, he said.

On the issue of bringing petroleum products under GST, he said theGSTCouncil would decide on the date of levyingGSTon petroleum products.

"Since the earlier regime (UPA) did not decide on bringing petroleum products under GST, there was a need for an amendment," he added.

Even if the petroleum products were brought under GST, states have the liberty to levy taxes above it, he said, adding that people should not assume that prices can be controlled by bringing petroleum products under the ambit of the GST.