Finance Minister leads GST Council meeting focusing on registration and refund changes

New Delhi, 8 October – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the 57th GST Council meeting, which brought together central and state officials to discuss the next wave of tax reforms.

Key topics on the table include revamping the taxpayer registration process, making return filing more intuitive, and shortening the refund cycle. The council will also look at ways to simplify the Input Tax Credit (ITC) rules and enhance the dispute resolution framework.

The objective is to reduce the compliance burden on businesses, cut down associated costs, and create a more transparent tax administration. The council will evaluate the Law Committee's suggestions for separating willful tax evasion from accidental lapses.

Presently, Section 69 of the CGST Act empowers the commissioner to order arrests if a serious offence under Section 132, such as fake ITC claims, is suspected. The meeting will also address specific concerns raised by e‑commerce players and small business owners.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated that the upcoming GST reforms will simplify compliance and improve refund mechanisms, thereby encouraging greater investment and expansion across industries.