Rajasthan to have help centre on VAT

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with the Rajasthan government, is going to establish a help centre on the value-added tax (VAT) at Jaipur. It will function five days a week.

"With the announcement by the state government to implement VAT from April 1, 2006, there was an urgent need for the industry and traders in Rajasthan to understand the VAT rules and procedures to facilitate a smooth transition to the new tax regime.

"CII in its effort to bridge the gap between the industry and the government has decided to set up this help centre", Shripal Chaudhari, chairman CII Rajasthan state council said.

"The objective of this help centre is to address the problems and doubts of the industries, trading fraternity and its representatives on the current taxation scenario, which emerged after implementing VAT by the state government", he said.

Ram Karan Singh, additional commissioner (tax) and H L Pandey, deputy commissioner (appeals) from the commercial taxes department, Rajasthan government would be manning the operations of the centre.

Chaudhari said the help centre on VAT would further strengthen the bi-lateral relationship between government and industries, as the centre would bring together all stockholders to meet and exchange ideas and views and to understand the rules and procedures on VAT in the state.

He said that this unique initiative would address the industrial issues and problems on VAT and bring in greater efficiency and competitiveness among industry.

He stressed upon the point that with industrial resurgence, the economy has gathered momentum and therefore, this was the most opportune time for introducing VAT.

At the same time there was a great need to have this kind of supportive initiative to take the corrective actions for the proper implementation of VAT in Rajasthan," Chaudhary added.