Gujarat GST detects ‘tax evasion' worth over Rs 45 crore in Central schemes, including MGNREGA, in Dahod and Gir-Somnath
The Gujarat State GST Department on Friday said it has detected tax evasion in a few centrally sponsored schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), in Dahod and Gir-Somnath districts of the state.
In a statement on Friday, the department said that it had conducted searches on the premises of four taxpayers based in Dahod and Veraval on June 9. These persons, it said, were engaged in executing works under various government schemes, including MGNREGA.
During these searches, several irregularities were allegedly detected, such as misclassification of taxable services as exempt, under-reporting of turnover as compared to bank receipts and GST returns filed, and wrongful availment of Input Tax Credit (ITC).
The Gujarat GST department said that these findings allegedly 'point to a systematic and deliberate attempt by these four taxpayers to suppress taxable income and manipulate tax liability with the objective of evading taxes and misusing government funds'.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the total liability of these four taxpayers, including tax, interest, and penalty, amounts to over Rs 45 crore. Appropriate legal action to secure and realise government revenue is being pursued by the state GST department. Further investigation remains underway.
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