New Delhi, Oct 8: The GST Council approved scrapping the arrest powers of GST officers and raised the threshold to launch prosecution to Rs 5 crore from Rs 1 crore.
"The rate structure is settled, so the Council has turned to how the tax works day to day," the finance ministry said, adding that GST rate changes will now happen once a year.
On input tax credit claims, the 57th GST Council decided to set up a Committee of Officers to examine how to protect a genuine buyer who holds a proper invoice, has received the goods, and has paid his supplier in full.
The Committee of Officers will complete its study within three months, and an agenda will be placed before the next Council meeting, the ministry said.
The GST Council revoked GST officers' arrest powers. The threshold for prosecution goes up from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore.
The minimum punishment stands removed, and the punishment- whether fine, imprisonment, or both- is left to judicial discretion in every case, as per the council decision.
The Council held detailed deliberations on key GST-related issues, with discussions focused on strengthening the fiscal capacity of States and Union Territories, improving revenue mobilisation and advancing balanced fiscal federalism.
Attending the meeting in his capacity as Finance Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed confidence that the decisions taken by the Council would further strengthen Jammu & Kashmir’s fiscal position, support economic growth and accelerate development and public welfare.
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