The wake of COVID 19 posed many operational challenges and there are many measures being taken to restrain its impact. Unfortunately COVID picked up its impact in India in the month of March. Thus it created a big bottle neck for the enterprises not being able to meet the usual taxation deadlines and financial closures.Subsequently the federal government of India announced the relief measures and relaxations providing a much needed breather to the tax payers. World Trade Center Bhubaneswar in association with Office of Commissionerate of GST, Central Excise & Customs Bhubaneswar organized a webinar on “Tax Regimes during COVID times”. The webinar aimed to create awareness on the tax relaxations and other modifications in the provisions being extended to the tax payers. 

Mr. R. Manga Babu, IRS, Chief Commissioner, GST, Central Excise & Customs Bhubaneswar addressed the webinar as Chief Guest. In his remarks he spoke about the initiatives being taken by the Ministry of Finance for providing relief to the entrepreneurs and exporters fraternity during this unprecedented crisis situation. While terming GST as a good and simple taxation mechanism he highlighted that the nation has off late witnessed a lot of changes in the taxation procedures. He shared his insights on the various facilities being extended during COVID 19 such as appointment of nodal officers at every zone. He urged the stakeholders to take due support from the Commissionerate for any kind of bottle neck faced in compilation of taxes as well as filing of returns. 

Mr. Gopal Krishna Pati, IRS, Joint Commissioner, GST, Central Excise & Customs Bhubaneswar in his address highlighted the difference in the operational mechanisms being adopted due to the wake of COVID 19. He explained about the new digital facilities being created in order to restrain the physical movement of the tax payers. He also highlighted the enhanced importance of accountability set for the tax officers to ensure minimum hazel and paper work for the benefit of the trade fraternity. While speaking about the recent reforms he shared details about creation of nodal desks and online solutions for return filing, claiming refund and proving assistance in tax computation. 

Mr. G.C. Nath, Superintendent, Central Excise & Customs Bhubaneswar further addressed the attendees sharing detailed insights on the new tax regimes, extension of deadlines and facilitation services being extended. He also explained the changes in various provisions under Composition Scheme for the Financial Year 2020-21, provisions with respect to time of supply, validity of e-Way Bills, waiver for delayed payment of tax and filing of return. He further addressed specific several queries raised by the attendees with reference to their date of commencement of business, taxation for non-resident business owners, specified amendments to the CGST Rules 2017 and filing of various types of GST forms. 

Ms. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar proposed the vote of thanks.