The Maharashtra government has started an amnesty scheme for interest and penalty waivers for the pending liabilities under Goods and Services Tax (GST) between FY 2017 and 2020, 2025, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced in the state legislature on Wednesday. The deadline to avail of the scheme and settle dues without any additional charges is set for March 31. He urged businesses and taxpayers to take advantage of the scheme.
The total disputed amount under GST for the state stands at approximately Rs54,000 crore. The state expects about 1.14 lakh applications from taxpayers who are involved in these disputes. Of the Rs54,000 crore in disputed dues, Rs 27,000 crore pertains to the core tax, while another Rs 27,000 crore is in penalties and interest.
Based on past trends, about 20% of the disputed amount is expected to be collected under the scheme, which would translate to Rs 5,500-6,000 crore. Of this, half the amount around Rs 2,700-3,000 crore will be deposited into the state’s treasury, while the remainder will go to the Central government.
This scheme is expected to provide significant relief to businesses, offering a much-needed financial respite. Ajit Pawar also highlighted that the government is ensuring extensive awareness campaigns to inform taxpayers, legal professionals, chartered accountants and the general public about the benefits of this scheme.
