Non-integration of data in GST still a concern, says Fieo

Hyderabad: The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has urged the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to resolve the issue of non-integration of data that is causing delay in IGST refund claims, while thanking the CBIC and the officials for taking up the third phase of refund fortnight. 

FIEO has asked the CBIC for an immediate solution for pending IGST claims due to issues like non-integration of data in the GST portal, while adding that “Errors due to claiming of higher DBK, clearing SB000 errors, corrections not possible due to lapsing shipping bills, non-availability of module for supplementary claims, etc., are new and the department is not able to resolve. We request the CBIC to resolve these issues pertaining to the GST portal.”

Meanwhile, over 200 exporters availed of help desk services for GST refunds organised by the FIEO in Hyderabad. The third phase of refund fortnight this year concluded on Wednesday. It is estimated that Rs 31.69 crore refunds were successfully processed in Hyderabad, said a representative from FIEO.

Dr A. Sakhtivel, regional chairman, FIEO, said: “Our southern region offices alone handled pending cases of over 1,000 exporters with a total amount of '450 crore during the refund fortnight that concluded on August 1, 2018. Almost all refund claims referred by the Help Desks have been settled.”

“After GST, the refund process for exporters is much faster now. Almost 90 per cent of refund claims were processed during the last three phases of the refund drive taken up by GST officials.” said Mr Arun Luharuka. Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Kochi were cities where the FIEO set up help desks for GST refund claims. Apart from helping in clearing various errors, the Help Desk also acted as an extended office of the department for collecting documents and also provided clarification to exporters.