'GST REFORMS TO MAKE TAX SYSTEM MORE GROWTH-ORIENTED' Don't give any comfort to dishonest taxpayers: FM

Festive retail sales hit %6.05 lakh crore, surge 25% annually

- FE BUREAU

FINANCE MINISTER NIRMALA Sitharaman said on Friday that the ultimate goal of the tax department is to make life easier for honest taxpayers, while cautioning that dishonest taxpayers would “face the music”.

“Don’t give comfort to the dishonest taxpayer in any way ... economic growth and prosperity will surely follow,” she said while inaugurating the new Central GST (CGST) building in Ghaziabad.

Sitharaman emphasised that prompt disciplinary action would be taken against erring Central GST officials to maintain public trust. “If there are people who are bad sheep among taxpayers, follow the protocol to get hold of them. But don’t look at everybody with suspicion,” she said. “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 will be no ill feeling against you),” she added.