Srinagar: The growth of GST revenue of Jammu and Kashmir has been much higher than the national average, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha informed Sunday as the J&K State Taxes Department inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for knowledge sharing and capacity building of the officers of State Taxes Department.
According to an official press release, in his address, the LG complimented the high standards of professionalism shown by the J&K State Taxes Department and ICAI.
He said the MoU signed today marked the beginning of a new partnership between ICAI and Jammu Kashmir.
“The support and assistance of the ICAI to the State Taxes Department in future policy-making and various other aspects related to taxation will strengthen the ongoing reforms in ease of doing business and economy,” he added.
At the inaugural session of the capacity building programme on GST, the LG lauded the honest taxpayers for their contribution to the development of J&K and shared the efforts of the government to create a favourable environment for the economy and business.
“The GST revenue growth of Jammu and Kashmir has been much higher than the national average and we have reasons to be confident about future prospects due to reforms we carried out in the last few years to accelerate economic growth with social equality,” the LG said.
“New policies, greater transparency in governance and crackdown on cronyism have enabled enterprises, Industries and new-age businesses to grow. We have placed great emphasis on making the economy more competitive, increasing the tax base, compliance and strengthening trust between citizens and the government,” he said.
The LG appreciated the State Taxes Department for making the tax-paying process “seamless and friendlier” in every district and spreading awareness on the tax regime.
He urged the department and the citizens of the UT to play a constructive role in pushing forward industrialisation and making J&K one of the engines of Viksit Bharat.
The LG also assured all the necessary support by the administration to the ICAI for establishing their Centre of Excellence in the UT.
The LG released the revised edition of GST Acts and Rules – Bare Law and felicitated the consumers under the ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar’ campaign.
Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Santosh D Vaidya, Principal Secretary, Finance; Dr Rashmi Singh, Commissioner State Taxes Department; Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, vice-president ICAI; Sushil Kumar Goyal, Chairman, GST & Indirect Taxes Committee; Umesh Sharma, Vice Chairman, GST & Indirect Taxes Committee; senior officers; members of ICAI; representatives of trade and industry associations and heads of educational institutions were present.
