Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, has instructed the Taxation Department to enhance taxpayer participation in the GST Amnesty Scheme, specifically for non-fraud cases. He stressed the need for widespread public awareness campaigns using both traditional media and social media platforms to inform eligible taxpayers about the scheme’s advantages.
Presiding over a key meeting with senior Taxation Department officials at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal highlighted the importance of sensitizing field staff to actively engage with taxpayers and assist them in the application process. This initiative aims to help taxpayers benefit from the GST Amnesty Scheme while enabling the recovery of outstanding revenue, thereby strengthening the state’s financial position.
The GST Amnesty Scheme, introduced under Section 128A of the CGST Act, seeks to ease compliance by waiving interest and penalties on tax demands raised under Section 73. It allows taxpayers to clear pending dues from the financial years 2017-18 to 2019-20 by March 31, 2025, with the necessary forms to be submitted by June 30, 2025.
Finance Minister Harpal also issued strict instructions to officers, ensuring that revenue targets are met without exception. During the meeting, he reviewed the state’s overall revenue growth, particularly in Value Added Tax (VAT) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections.
Reports presented in the meeting indicated a 5.74% rise in VAT collection and a 13.39% increase in GST revenue as of February 2025. The Ludhiana and Amritsar divisions were recognized for their exceptional performance in GST collection.
Additionally, the minister reviewed outstanding GST arrears and directed officers to ensure timely recovery while preventing further accumulation of dues. He emphasized the importance of strict enforcement measures to avoid delays and maintain steady revenue collection.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary (Taxation) Jaspreet Talwar, Taxation Commissioner Varun Roojam, and other senior officers from the State Tax divisions.