India to seek public input on revised GST return forms

India's tax authority is moving to simplify the Goods and Services Tax regime by inviting public feedback on redesigned return forms beginning November 1. The draft forms will be available on the myGov.in portal, allowing taxpayers and industry stakeholders to submit comments and suggestions before the final version is implemented.

The initiative addresses a persistent problem within the GST framework: mismatches between filed returns and actual tax liabilities. According to Gaurav Singh, Commissioner of the GST Policy Wing under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, return discrepancies account for approximately 80 per cent of all tax notices issued to businesses.

The recurring issue of return mismatches has long frustrated compliance-focused taxpayers and created administrative burden for both businesses and tax officials. By revising the return forms, the government aims to reduce ambiguities and improve data accuracy at source, thereby lowering the volume of notices and disputes.

Stakeholders are expected to review the proposed forms during the consultation period and provide detailed feedback through the portal. The CBIC will consider public inputs before finalizing the new forms, which are expected to streamline the compliance process for the country's 1.4 crore registered GST taxpayers.