Latest news with #Sitharaman
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Fifth edition of Time Release Study shows faster import clearance at ports
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday released the fifth edition of the National Time Release Study (NTRS), which showed a significant reduction in average cargo release times across key import gateways between 2023 and 2025. According to the central board of indirect taxes and customs (CBIC) report, average release times fell by approximately six hours at seaports, 5 hours at air cargo complexes (ACCs), and 18 hours at integrated check posts (ICPs). However, inland container depots (ICDs) recorded a 12-hour increase during 2023 and 2025. The study also revealed that 93.33 per cent of import cargo at ICPs met the 48-hour release target set under the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) 3.0, followed by 55 per cent at ACCs, 51.8 per cent at seaports, and 43.7 per cent at ICDs. Export clearance times remained fastest at air cargo complexes, where regulatory clearance took less than 4 hours. In contrast, export processing at seaports averaged nearly 30 hours, with logistics post-clearance stretching to more than 157 hours. 'High levels of facilitation (87–93 per cent) were observed across ports. Release times were also influenced by cargo characteristics. For instance, refrigerated goods moved faster through air cargo, factory-stuffed cargo was cleared quicker than ICD-stuffed cargo,' the government said. Sitharaman unveiled the report during the CBIC Conclave in New Delhi. The 'Path to Promptness' framework -- emphasising advance filing, risk-based facilitation, AEO accreditation, and Direct Port Delivery-- was cited as a major driver of improvements. However, delays persisted in areas like duty payments, regulatory query resolution, and post-clearance logistics.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Make GST registration easier using technology, risk-based parameters: Nirmala Sitharaman
NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday told taxmen to make the Goods and Services Tax registration process easier, seamless, and more transparent with the use of technology and risk-based parameters. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked CBIC to make the GST registration easier, seamless, and more transparent for taxpayers (PIB) Addressing a conclave of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Sitharaman told officials to prepare an action plan to improve various parameters such as GST registration, processing of refunds, and handling taxpayers' grievances. The conclave was attended by principal chief commissioners, chief commissioners and director generals and field formations of the CBIC in New Delhi. During the conclave, CBIC highlighted the performance of customs and CGST zones on key indicators such as grievance redressal, refunds, audit and enforcement. The average time for grievance disposal has been reduced to just nine days, significantly better than the stipulated 21-day timeline, the finance ministry said in a statement. On refunds, 85% of claims were processed within the statutory 60-day limit, it said. GST audit coverage went up from 62.21% in 2022–23 to 88.74% in 2024–25. Detection of GST evasion had improved to ₹ 2,23,170 crore in 2024–25, with voluntary payments totalling ₹ 28,909 crore. The number of taxpayers repeated for audit more than once in three years is zero, it said. In the area of enhanced trade facilitation, facilitation of cargo through the risk management system (RMS) has steadily increased, with 86% of cargo being facilitated in 2025, up from 82% in 2022. Similarly, in 2024-25, 2140.35 kgs of seized gold were disposed of by handing it over to SPMCIL, it said. The finance minister also directed the Central GST (CGST) formations to launch targeted awareness campaigns among taxpayers, trade associations, and industry bodies regarding the mandatory documentation required for GST registration, particularly those related to the principal place of business, it said. This would help reduce rejections and delays in registration and enable faster processing of applications, she said. The minister also directed CGST zonal heads to have a dedicated helpdesk for GST registrations to facilitate the taxpayers in the application process. Sitharaman highlighted the need to ensure that GST 'seva kendras' and customs 'turant suvidha kendras' are well-staffed, accessible, and properly maintained, so that taxpayers receive timely and quality assistance. Emphasising taxpayer trust, she called for a targeted and sustained focus on grievance redressal, ensuring the timely resolution of queries and complaints through improved systems and accountability. Sitharaman also called for the speedy closure of investigations for Customs and CGST cases, and stressed the need to seek solutions to reduce the gap between detection and recovery. At the same time, the minister emphasised the need for preventing tax evasion and wrongful Input Tax Credits (ITC) claims. NTRS 2025 Sitharaman also released the fifth edition of the National Time Release Study -- NTRS 2025. According to the report, India has seen significant improvement in the average cargo release time in all four categories -- seaports, inland container depots (ICDs), integrated check posts (ICPs) and air cargo complexes (ACCs). The time release study (TRS) is a performance measurement tool that provides a quantitative assessment of the time taken for cargo release, helping to evaluate the efficiency of the clearance process. Since 2019, TRS has been conducted at 15 major locations, including seaports, ACCs, ICDs, and ICPs. In the import segment, average release time (ART) has declined between 2023 and 2025 across seaports by about six hours, ACCs by about five hours, and ICPs by approximately 18 hours. There has been an increase of about 12 hours in the case of ICDs, a finance ministry statement said, citing the report. A key strength of India's TRS lies in its use of accurate and reliable data sourced directly from the customs automated system, operated by the Directorate General of Systems and Data Management in the CBIC, the statement said. Over the years, the scope of TRS has significantly expanded. What began as a report measuring release time across select gateway ports now includes other areas of considerable importance, such as transit cargo, courier shipments, and commodity-specific assessments, it added. The fifth edition also adopted advanced methodologies to enable stage-wise and process-specific evaluations. This edition marked another milestone by widening its geographical coverage to three additional ports -- Kochi seaport, Garhi Harsaru ICD and Jaigaon land customs station (LCS).
Mint
6 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Close investigations swiftly, speed up refunds: finance minister tells tax officials
New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday directed senior officials of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to close investigations swiftly, speed up tax refunds, and make goods and services tax (GST) registration easier. At a meeting in the capital, Sitharaman also asked the officials to resolve grievances of businesses promptly while maintaining focus on tackling tax evasion and wrongful tax credit claims. The minister reviewed the performance of Central GST and customs authorities and asked the principal chief commissioners, chief commissioners, and director generals of CBIC to enhance performance, fill vacant posts, and enhance administrative efficiency. Officials informed the minister that ₹ 2.23 trillion worth of GST evasion has been detected as of 2024-25, with voluntary payments totaling ₹ 28,909 crore. Sitharaman was engaging with the top brass of the Central government's indirect tax administration to ensure that ease of doing business and ease of tax compliance remain the guiding principle for the tax administration while also ensuring compliance. Reforms, reducing paper work for businesses, and de-regulation are top priorities for the Central government as it seeks to unlock India's unrealised economic potential. Sitharaman's budget speech on 1 February was centred around the reforms needed across sectors. The minister's address to tax officials has set a clear tone—that efficiency, accountability, and taxpayer-centricity must drive indirect tax administration, said Rajat Mohan, senior partner at chartered accountancy firm AMRG and Associates. 'The sharp rise in GST audit coverage to 88.74% and the 94.3% return-filing compliance reflects a matured compliance ecosystem. However, the vast gap between ₹ 2.23 trillion in tax evasion detected and the ₹ 28,909 crore recovered demands immediate focus on enforcement efficiency,' said Mohan. CBIC officials informed Sitharaman during Friday's meeting that the average time for resolving grievances had been reduced to nine days from the stipulated 21-day timeline, and that 95-97% of appeals are disposed of within a month. This track record has placed CBIC among the top five out of 90 Central ministries in the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System rankings since February 2024. The officials also told the minister the national average for monthly GST return filing stood above 94% in FY25, and that 85% of tax refund claims are processed within the statutory 60-day limit. GST audit coverage rose from 62.21% in FY23 to 88.74% in FY25. Sitharaman directed the officials to improve in performance parameters such as GST registration, processing of refunds, and handling taxpayers' grievances. 'Simplifying GST registration, clarifying documentation for principal place of business, and mandating helpdesks are much-needed reforms that will ease on-ground hurdles for taxpayers,' said Mohan of AMRG and Associates. Amit Maheshwari, tax partner at AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm, said GST audit coverage has improved significantly, with zero repeat audits in three years—a move that ensures fairness without burdening taxpayers. Sitharaman also urged customs authorities to reduce the dwell time of consignments at seaports, airports, and inland container depots for both imports and exports, and emphasised that faster cargo clearance is crucial to enhance India's global trade competitiveness and ease of doing business. The minister also directed that disciplinary proceedings against officials at different levels be concluded expeditiously.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Make GST registration easier using technology, risk-based parameters: FM Sitharaman to CBIC
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday asked CBIC to make the GST registration easier, seamless, and more transparent for taxpayers, using technology and risk-based parameters. Sitharaman, who chaired the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Conclave with the Principal Chief Commissioners, Chief Commissioners and Director Generals of the field formations, reviewed the performance of Customs and CGST zones on key indicators. During the conclave, she directed the zones to prepare an action plan to improve various parameters, such as GST registration, processing of refunds, and handling taxpayers' grievances. The finance minister also directed the CGST formations to launch targeted awareness campaigns among taxpayers, trade associations, and industry bodies regarding the mandatory documentation required for GST registration, particularly those related to the principal place of business, the finance ministry said in a statement. This would help reduce rejections and delays in registration and enable faster processing of applications, she said. Live Events She also directed CGST Zonal Heads to have a dedicated helpdesk for GST registrations to facilitate the taxpayers in the application process. The finance minister also highlighted the need to ensure that GST Seva Kendras and Customs Turant Suvidha Kendras are well-staffed, accessible, and properly maintained so that taxpayers receive timely and quality assistance. Emphasising taxpayer trust, she called for a targeted and sustained focus on grievance redressal, ensuring the timely resolution of queries and complaints through improved systems and accountability. Sitharaman also underlined the need for the speedy closure of investigations for Customs and CGST cases, and exhorted for an analysis on detection and recovery and to seek solutions to reduce the gap between detection and recovery. At the same time, she emphasised the need to prevent tax evasion and wrongful input tax credit (ITC) claims. The CBIC was asked to expedite the processing of GST and Customs refunds to ensure timely redressal and ease of doing business, especially for MSMEs and exporters. Hailing that CBIC ranks in the top five out of 90 Central Ministries/Departments in CPGRAMS performance since February 2024, she underscored the importance of promptly addressing public grievances received through CPGRAMS. The finance minister suggested that the CGST and Customs zones may dedicate teams to further expedite the resolution of grievances. She asked the Customs to reduce dwell time at seaports, airports, and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) for both imports and exports and emphasised that faster cargo clearance is crucial to enhance India's global trade competitiveness and ease of doing business. Taking note of pending disciplinary matters, the minister directed that disciplinary proceedings against the officials at different levels be concluded expeditiously in a time-bound manner. The CBIC was also urged to fill all vacant posts at the earliest across various levels to strengthen field formations and enhance administrative efficiency. Sitharaman encouraged Chief Commissioners and DGs to actively undertake trade facilitation measures within their jurisdictions and submit actionable suggestions to CBIC Headquarters for further streamlining of procedures. The meeting was also attended by Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava and CBIC Chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, and senior officials of the Department of Revenue.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Make GST registration easier using tech, risk-based parameters: FM to CBIC
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday asked CBIC to make the GST registration easier, seamless, and more transparent for taxpayers, using technology and risk-based parameters. Sitharaman, who chaired the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Conclave with the Principal Chief Commissioners, Chief Commissioners and Director Generals of the field formations, reviewed the performance of Customs and CGST zones on key indicators. During the conclave, she directed the zones to prepare an action plan to improve various parameters, such as GST registration, processing of refunds, and handling taxpayers' grievances. The finance minister also directed the CGST formations to launch targeted awareness campaigns among taxpayers, trade associations, and industry bodies regarding the mandatory documentation required for GST registration, particularly those related to the principal place of business, the finance ministry said in a statement. This would help reduce rejections and delays in registration and enable faster processing of applications, she said. She also directed CGST Zonal Heads to have a dedicated helpdesk for GST registrations to facilitate the taxpayers in the application process. The finance minister also highlighted the need to ensure that GST Seva Kendras and Customs Turant Suvidha Kendras are well-staffed, accessible, and properly maintained so that taxpayers receive timely and quality assistance. Emphasising taxpayer trust, she called for a targeted and sustained focus on grievance redressal, ensuring the timely resolution of queries and complaints through improved systems and accountability. Sitharaman also underlined the need for the speedy closure of investigations for Customs and CGST cases, and exhorted for an analysis on detection and recovery and to seek solutions to reduce the gap between detection and recovery. At the same time, she emphasised the need to prevent tax evasion and wrongful input tax credit (ITC) claims. The CBIC was asked to expedite the processing of GST and Customs refunds to ensure timely redressal and ease of doing business, especially for MSMEs and exporters. Hailing that CBIC ranks in the top five out of 90 Central Ministries/Departments in CPGRAMS performance since February 2024, she underscored the importance of promptly addressing public grievances received through CPGRAMS. The finance minister suggested that the CGST and Customs zones may dedicate teams to further expedite the resolution of grievances. She asked the Customs to reduce dwell time at seaports, airports, and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) for both imports and exports and emphasised that faster cargo clearance is crucial to enhance India's global trade competitiveness and ease of doing business. Taking note of pending disciplinary matters, the minister directed that disciplinary proceedings against the officials at different levels be concluded expeditiously in a time-bound manner. The CBIC was also urged to fill all vacant posts at the earliest across various levels to strengthen field formations and enhance administrative efficiency. Sitharaman encouraged Chief Commissioners and DGs to actively undertake trade facilitation measures within their jurisdictions and submit actionable suggestions to CBIC Headquarters for further streamlining of procedures. The meeting was also attended by Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava and CBIC Chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, and senior officials of the Department of Revenue.
