Welfare surcharge higher than earlier cess as customs mop-up low: Sarna

CBEC Chairperson Vanaja N Sarna says the general feedback on the GSTR-1/2/3 design was that it was very complicated

As the GST Council takes up the issue of invoice matching on the lines of Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani's presentation in its next meeting, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) Chairperson Vanaja N Sarna says the new mechanism will be put in place after a thorough stakeholder consultation. She tells Dilasha Seth and Indivjal Dhasmana that there is no point introducing another return if it leads to disappointment among taxpayers. Edited excerpts:

We have been talking against protectionism across the globe. Isn’t the customs duty hike in the Budget for 2018-19 just that?

The hike is neither inflationary nor