The Excise and Taxation Department, UT, today organised an awareness campaign with Sector 37 C Market Association in Sector 37 C.

The campaign was presided over by Mandip Singh Brar, Excise and Taxation Commissioner-cum-Deputy Commissioner, UT, for awareness of shopkeepers and customers on issuance of bills.

Brar congratulated the Trader Association regarding GSTR-3B returns compliance rating and informed that Chandigarh is at first position among all states and UTs in India. The GSTR-3B compliance rating is 98.28 per cent for 2019-20 upto January 31, 2020.

The Excise and Taxation Department, UT, has already launched Mission 100 per cent with regard to GSTR-3B filing for the month of April, May, June, July, August and September, 2019, and the Department has achieved 99.88 per as on today.

The department had launched a massive campaign since last month on issuance of bills by shopkeepers. To create awareness among the masses, the department has pasted stickers in shops, aired jingles on FM radio, playing video clips on cinema screens and displayed hoardings near roundabouts and in some specific markets of the city. The awareness campaign will continue, said Brar.

A retailer has issue a bill for every transaction above Rs 200. If a customer asks for a bill even transaction is less than Rs 200, the taxpayer will have to issue the bill.

A composite taxpayer is also statutorily required to issue bill, but he cannot charge the tax as per provisions of the GST law.

The authorities can impose a fine of Rs 20,000 or 100 per cent of the tax evaded on the seller whichever is higher.

During an interaction, the department’s officers replied to the queries of the shopkeepers and traders.

RK Chaudhary, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, SS Bedi, Arun Kumar, Pradeep Rawal, and Yogeshwar Sharam, Excise and Taxation Officers, were also present during the awareness drive along with office-bearers of various trader organisations.