BENGALURU: Traders, mainly unregistered, have decided to go on strike on Wednesday and Thursday wearing black stripes to register their protest against notices served on them by the Commercial Taxes Department, Bengaluru to pay applicable taxes under the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The process of issuing notices to the persons who have not obtained GST registration. Meanwhile, many traders have stopped receiving payment through UPI and are receiving consideration in the form of cash after issue of notices/intimations by the Commercial Tax Department. The president of Karmika Parishat Ravi Shetty Byndoor stated that traders will stage two-day protests wearing black stripes and do their business but on July 25 onwards, traders will shut their business and go on ‘indefinite’ strike to oppose notices to small traders asking them to pay applicable taxes. Meanwhile, a statement from Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Headquarters-1), Bengaluru brought to the notice of unregistered traders “The GST is applicable on the consideration received for the supplies in any form and UPI is only a method of receiving such consideration.” According to Commercial Tax officials 98, 915 tax payers have registered themselves and are paying taxes under the composition scheme and the number of persons to whom notices or intimations are issued recently by the Department are less than 10 percent of the already registered taxpayers under composition scheme. The statement clarified every person who carries on a business activity and receives payments by way of cash, UPI, POS Machine, Bank payments or by any other means and but have an annual turnover of more than Rs 40 lakh (in case of suppliers of goods) and Rs 20 lakh (in case of supplier of services) have to obtain GST registration mandatorily. For registered taxpayers it would not be difficult to pay tax at 1 percent under the composition scheme. In support of their strike across the State, members of Karmika Parishat distributed pamphlets to various traders to join them in the strike and make it a success. A trader engaged in selling condiments at Kengeri in Bengaluru,. Rajendra Shetty said he received a notice from Commercial Tax asking to pay RS 67 lakh. Raghavendra, a trader dealing in condiments, has been asked to clear tax of Rs 29 lakh in the notice served on him from the officials of Commercial Tax. Such hundreds of aggrieved traders feel aggrieved by the Commercial Tax notices across the State will be going on strike.
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