Ahead of GST, West Bengal tries to settle disputed taxes

State govt has given a one-time settlement offer to clear dues at 50% discount on accumulated tax

Just before the states are preparing themselves to meet the July 1 deadline of the GST rollout, the West Bengal government on Wednesday amended the state's taxation laws, offering the hotels, restaurants, bars and cable operators a one-time settlement window to clear their disputed dues at a discount rate of 50 per cent on the accumulated arrear tax amount.

The West Bengal Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017, brought in by the government, will amend the Bengal Amusements Tax Act of 1922, the West Bengal Entertainments and Luxuries (Hotel and Restaurants) Tax Act, 1972, the West Bengal Entertainment-cum-Amusement Tax Act, 1982