Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday asked GST officers to be polite and make life easier for honest taxpayers while ensuring no comfort is given to dishonest ones, during the inauguration of the CGST building in Ghaziabad.Sitharaman stressed that officers must maintain professionalism and courtesy while enforcing tax laws, noting that the next-generation GST should not only simplify rates and slabs but also make taxpayers feel respected and fairly treated.Sitharaman highlighted the importance of timely conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against officers, saying swift action reinforces accountability within the organisation and protects the morale and reputation of those wrongfully accused.
“Prolonged proceedings unfairly affect the morale and reputation of the officers involved – particularly the innocent. For those wrongfully accused, early closure brings relief and restoration of dignity. The motto for disciplinary matters should be: Galat kiya hai toh khair nahi, sahi kiya hai toh koi bair nahi (If you do wrong, you won’t be forgiven; if you are right, there would be no ill feeling),” she said.The minister asked field officers to make extensive use of technology for faster registration approvals, grievance redressal, and proactive trade facilitation measures.“There is no iron wall between you and the trader, there is thin air. You can understand where the difficulty is, rather than muddying it up any further,” she said, urging officers to show greater empathy and courtesy while interacting with honest taxpayers.Sitharaman also emphasized that officers need not be subjective when dealing with dishonest taxpayers and should follow established protocols or Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs). She urged field formations to map recurring grievances in Central GST zones, address root causes, and close pending investigations expeditiously with well-reasoned, evidence-based orders to reduce litigation costs.From November 1, 2025, the Simplified GST Registration Scheme will grant automatic registration within three working days in two categories: applicants identified by the system based on data analysis, and those whose self-assessed output tax liability will not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh per month. Sitharaman said this reform is expected to benefit 96% of new applicants and tasked field formations to operationalise it smoothly and without friction.She stressed that GST Seva Kendras across India should be well-staffed, accessible, and properly maintained, with dedicated helpdesks to facilitate registration and provide timely, high-quality assistance. Quoting Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) data on festive retail and e-commerce transactions, Sitharaman said that the recent GST rate cuts implemented on September 22 have had a meaningful impact on consumption.Effective September 22, 2025, next-generation GST reforms introduced a two-tier tax structure of 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate for ultra-luxury items. Previously, GST rates ranged from 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%, plus a compensation cess on luxury items.These changes have led to significant price reductions for 375 items, including everyday products like toothpaste and shampoo, as well as high-value items such as cars and televisions, reinforcing the government’s focus on simplifying taxation and promoting economic growth.
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