By A Staff Reporter
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan: The 55th meeting of the GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, focused on improving the registration process for small businesses and addressing taxation challenges in the e-commerce sector.
Speaking at the meeting, Sitharaman acknowledged the difficulties faced by small companies in completing registration due to multiple layers of verification. “Small companies have issues with registration and various kinds of verifications. To address this, we have prepared a concept note which has received the approval of the GST Council. This initiative will introduce a new registration process ensuring smoother onboarding for small businesses,” she stated.
The Council’s move aims to promote ease of doing business and provide relief to small enterprises that often struggle with compliance and bureaucratic hurdles. While the specifics of the new process are yet to be revealed, the concept note is seen as a significant step towards reforming the GST framework for micro and small enterprises.
Another major agenda item discussed during the meeting was the taxation of food delivery services facilitated by e-commerce platforms. However, Sitharaman clarified that no decision has been taken on the matter. “Food delivery through e-commerce was widely discussed, but it has been deferred for now,” she noted.
The Council's deliberations come at a time when the GST framework is undergoing significant scrutiny to ensure inclusivity and address emerging challenges in the digital economy. The meeting highlighted the government’s intent to resolve long-pending issues while deferring complex topics for further discussion.
As the GST Council continues its efforts to streamline processes, stakeholders await detailed guidelines on the proposed registration reforms for small businesses.