Companies facing probe get relief from HC for settling pre-GST disputes

Bombay HC paves the way for firms to settle disputes with tax authorities

The Bombay High Court has paved the way for settlement of pre-goods and services tax (pre-GST) disputes between companies and tax authorities under an amnesty scheme of the government. This is even for cases where investigations are on.

It quashed rejection of one such application by a committee of officers for settlement of tax disputes under Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Res­olution) Scheme (SVLDRS), 2019. The scheme had provided taxpayers relief in payment of disputed tax amounts ranging from 40 per cent (of the tax amount) to 70 per cent. It also provided for full waiver of interest and penalty.

The court gave