Chief minister Siddaramaiah will, on Wednesday, hold a meeting with the stakeholders affected by the GST notices to small businessmen demanding tax arrears of the past four years based on their UPI transaction data.
The Karnataka CM will meet the representatives of the affected businessmen and vendors at his official residence Cauvery at 3 pm in the presence of Ritesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Finance Department and Vipul Bansal, Commissioner of Commercial Taxes.
Siddaramaiah, who climbed the political ladder championing the poor pro issues, is expected to come up with a solution on the back of increasing chorus against the sudden tax demand which in many cases has run into several lakhs of rupees. AICC leader Rahul Gandhi has all along opposed the GST, calling it a brutal tool of economic injustice, designed to punish the poor. He called the GST portal a source of daily harassment.
The CM had, on Sunday, promised to take a call on the flood of notices the commercial taxes department has issued to small businessmen and vendors asking to pay up the GST dues, while blaming the BJP and the Centre for the latest crisis. The GST officials have gone by the UPI payment data for the financial years from 2021-22 to 2024-25 and claimed the tax dues.
The public outcry arising from the GST notices has resulted in scores of businessmen in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru and other cities in Karnataka dumping their QR codes and putting up signboards that will accept only cash payment from customers.
The CM’s meeting comes amid calls for a three-day state-wide protest from July 23, demanding the withdrawal of GST notices for treating all UPI receipts as business income and taxing it all. The agitated merchants said they will not sell milk and milk-based products on July 23-24 and do their business wearing a black badge and hold a state-wide bandh on July 25.
The GST authorities have targeted small shops and vendors selling items such as milk, bakeries, condiments, flowers, and meat. The Cab Drivers Association has also pledged its support to the protest.
Deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar has said the commercial taxes department has issued notices to about 14,000 traders, including those selling tender coconuts, flowers, and vegetables.
AICC leader Rahul Gandhi opposed the GST in the past, the Dy CM said on Monday, while adding that the notices would hurt small and medium businessmen.
The Opposition BJP has opened a helpline offering legal assistance to affected traders, while slamming the state government for “squeezing” small businesses to meet its elevated revenue targets and fund the guarantee schemes.
The Karnataka CM will meet the representatives of the affected businessmen and vendors at his official residence Cauvery at 3 pm in the presence of Ritesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Finance Department and Vipul Bansal, Commissioner of Commercial Taxes.
Siddaramaiah, who climbed the political ladder championing the poor pro issues, is expected to come up with a solution on the back of increasing chorus against the sudden tax demand which in many cases has run into several lakhs of rupees. AICC leader Rahul Gandhi has all along opposed the GST, calling it a brutal tool of economic injustice, designed to punish the poor. He called the GST portal a source of daily harassment.
The CM had, on Sunday, promised to take a call on the flood of notices the commercial taxes department has issued to small businessmen and vendors asking to pay up the GST dues, while blaming the BJP and the Centre for the latest crisis. The GST officials have gone by the UPI payment data for the financial years from 2021-22 to 2024-25 and claimed the tax dues.
The public outcry arising from the GST notices has resulted in scores of businessmen in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru and other cities in Karnataka dumping their QR codes and putting up signboards that will accept only cash payment from customers.
The CM’s meeting comes amid calls for a three-day state-wide protest from July 23, demanding the withdrawal of GST notices for treating all UPI receipts as business income and taxing it all. The agitated merchants said they will not sell milk and milk-based products on July 23-24 and do their business wearing a black badge and hold a state-wide bandh on July 25.
The GST authorities have targeted small shops and vendors selling items such as milk, bakeries, condiments, flowers, and meat. The Cab Drivers Association has also pledged its support to the protest.
Deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar has said the commercial taxes department has issued notices to about 14,000 traders, including those selling tender coconuts, flowers, and vegetables.
AICC leader Rahul Gandhi opposed the GST in the past, the Dy CM said on Monday, while adding that the notices would hurt small and medium businessmen.
The Opposition BJP has opened a helpline offering legal assistance to affected traders, while slamming the state government for “squeezing” small businesses to meet its elevated revenue targets and fund the guarantee schemes.
