MARGAO: A Good and Services Tax of 18% is being imposed on the government fees for various documents provided at the Citizens Facilitation Centre (CFC) run by Goa Electronics Limited (GEL). Several citizens of Salcete irked by these extra charges brought it to the notice of Herald claiming the departments are not accepting their application and that they are being forced to go the GEL counters where they are charged more than other taluka offices for the same services.
Herald inquired with the Secretary of Revenue, Anthony D’Souza, about whether there is a notification directing the revenue departments in Salcete not to accept applications directly. D’Souza informed Herald that the government has issued a notification to that effect.
With regards to the GST imposed on the services, D’Souza informed that the CEO of GEL, Revati Mazumdar, claimed that that the GST is imposed only on the service charges/fees imposed by GEL. Herald pointed out that the bills issued by the GEL counters do not mention the service fees of GEL and that the GST is calculated on the total amount for the services. D’Souza stated that he will inquire into the matter.
This raises the question whether GEL has been illegally charging fees on Government services. Herald contacted Mr Deepak Bandekar, Commissioner of Commercial Taxes and asked him whether GEL can charge GST on the government services. He replied saying that GEL cannot charge GST on government services and that they can only charge GST on their fees.
Under the GST rules, government services are exempted from GST barring a few like certain postal services, transportation of goods and passengers, fines, etc. Revenue services such as application for certificates, survey plans, etc, have 0% GST.
