July 1 likely to be city’s date with VAT
While the UT Administration’s Value Added Tax (VAT) case is still pending with the Union Law Ministry for clearance, it is likely that the Administration would introduce the new tax regime after the first quarter of tax collection. Sources said the date of July 1 makes sense as the second quarter of tax collection starts on this day.
Sources explained that if VAT was introduced before or after July 1, tax collection would be a problem for the Administration, as it would have to collect taxes as per the present sales tax system and the new tax regime as well. Sources said if VAT was introduced from July 1, there would be no complication as taxes are collected after every quarter.
It may be mentioned that the city’s trade bodies have also been demanding that the new tax regime should have been introduced from April 1 or now from July 1 so that they don’t face problems regarding tax and there is no confusion in filing the tax returns.
Sources also revealed that the UT’s case for VAT was referred to the Law Ministry as there were some objections raised by the Centre regarding the repealing of the Punjab General Sales Tax, which is presently being followed in the UT.
More: cities.expressindia.com
4/25/2005
VAT is the matter at CSDs?
With confusion reigning supreme over imposition of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on CSD goods, Armymen are not in a great buying position: either the canteens have run out of goods, or are unclear about the prices they should sell goods at.
The canteens are in such a quandary that if they have the goods, they are not putting them on sale. Air Marshal R.S. Bedi (retd) wanted to buy a Honda City from the canteen, but ‘‘did not book the car’’ for him. They said ‘‘we cannot book the car until the prices in the post-VAT period are clear.’’
Another officer Brig D.S. Dhillion (retd.), who has been doing the rounds of the canteen for the last 22 days to buy an Indica car, says: ‘‘I have already deposited money with the dealer, but the car could not be cleared by the Ambala depot because of confusion over VAT. The government should clear the situation about the VAT on CSD goods. They should have made the decision before April 1 itself.’’
Fresh supplies from the Ambala Depot are not coming into the canteens in Chandigarh. So the canteens have resorted to rationing of goods. Col B.S. Kanwar explains: ‘‘Some canteens are closed because they have no stock left and some are selling it on the old rates.’’
More: cities.expressindia.com
Ambala chemists to shut shop from today
CONGRESS leaders, while criticising the proposed indefinite strike by the state’s chemists and druggists, following the call given by Haryana Chemists and Druggists Association (HCDA), termed it a politically motivated move by a section of the association being instigated by the BJP.
Leaders, including DCC president Ashok Jain, HPCC organising secretary Arjun Kalra and veteran Gandhian leader Om Prakash Malik, expressed their concern and said there was no justification of the strike when Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had already decided to accept the association’s main demand of reducing VAT from 10 per cent to 4 per cent, bringing it at par with the other states in the country.
DCC president Jain, said that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told him over the phone that the government had already given its assent to reduce VAT on medicines from 10 to 4 per cent and the notification in this regard was likely to be issued shortly, after completing formalities.
He said that the Chief Minister had also issued verbal directions to the concerned authorities to issue the notification. He said that the state government was working to solve people’s problems and redress grievances of the masses .
More: expressindia.com
At CSDs, only liquor prices swinging, rest stable
THE issue of imposition of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) on CSD goods is still on. Currently, VAT has not been imposed on CSD goods in Chandigarh. Compared to the canteen at Chandimandir, goods in Chandigarh CSD canteens are still cheaper.
At present, Chandigarh has an edge especially when it comes to liquor prices. At the CSD canteen in Sector 21 the prices are lower compared to the Chandimandir canteen. But one must not rush to the canteen immediately. Reason: There is not much liquor left in the canteen.
Retired army personnel at the canteen are also left with no option but to just look at the prices and move on. The situation at the liquor section in Chandimandir canteen is no different.
The general fear among the army personnel is that the prices of goods would increase. In Punjab, liquor prices have already seen an increase of 22 per cent in the CSD canteens. And the anger against this increased price is very conspicuous. Brig Harwant Singh (retd), a resident of Mohali, said, ‘‘The government has not kept its promise.’’ He compared the government with the East India Company doing away with the bhatta during late 1850s.
More: cities.expressindia.com