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Journalism of Courage
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) officers are working towards identifying fake invoices and fraudulent claims and have busted 304 syndicates so far involving 9,000 fake GSTINs (GST identification numbers) and input tax credit (ITC) claims of Rs 25,000 crore in the ongoing drive against bogus firms, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) chairman Vivek Johri said on Saturday.
He also pointed out that only 40 per cent of the corporate income taxpayer base is registered under GST.
Johri urged businesses to get registered under GST and said the department is conducting an outreach programme to make businesses aware of the benefits of Goods and Services tax. The GST authorities have been carrying out a two-month drive against fake registrations which began May 16.
Currently, 1.39 lakh businesses are registered under GST, launched six years ago on July 1, 2017.
He said the department is using advanced data analytics, and adopting a non-intrusive approach to nab evaders.
“I warn those who continue to do this that we come at them with a very heavy hand…we want a larger but clean taxpayer base so that honest taxpayers are protected,” Johri said.
