In a bid to expedite the implementation of the nationwide value-added tax (Vat) regime, the Centre has committed to obtaining presidential assent to the VAT Bills of states pending with it by March 11.
The states have been told to get the laws enacted by the last week of March so that they can switch to the new regime by April 1.
Following a meeting today, called for getting presidential assent to the pending Bills, Revenue Secretary C S Rao assured the home ministry, the law ministry and the Planning Commission that the Centre would clear the Bills by March 11.
All the states, except Delhi, Punjab and Bihar, have sent their draft Bills to the Centre for approval.
Tamil Nadu, which was dithering for long, finally cleared its Bill today. Kerala, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have their VAT laws in place.
Maharashtra is trying out the tax on select commodities. Apart from these seven, all the states have their Bills pending with the Centre.
Delhi, Punjab and Bihar could spoil the show by demanding an extension of the April 1 deadline since they had not yet submitted their draft legislation to the Centre, an official said.
There are apprehensions of a delay in the implementation schedule as quite a few states told the empowered committee yesterday that they would prefer to switch over in July.
Once the Centre clears the Bills, the states will have 15 days to enact them. This might, however, not leave them enough time to notify the rules.
Meanwhile, reacting to reports about VAT being delayed, Ramesh Chandra, secretary, empowered committee, said today that VAT
