New Delhi: The announcement of new date for the roll out of GST was deferred until month-end today as the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is preoccupied with preparations for the next Budget.
"We will meet by month end and hope to finalise the dates and rates," Empowered Committee of state finance ministers Asim Dasgupta told reporters, amid speculation that GST may not be implemented from April 1, 2010, as was scheduled earlier.
After the meeting with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee, Dasgupta said, "Regarding GST, he (Mukherjee) requested for some more time because of his preoccupation with the preparation of Union Budget. He requested us to come to him for discussion on a little later date within this month," Dasgupta said.
Dasgupta had said earlier that states and the Union Finance Ministry would announce new dates for introduction of GST after the meeting.
The government has kick started the process of consultations and meetings with various groups for the Budget 2010-11.
GST will do away with most of the indirect taxes at the centre like excise and service tax and VAT and octroi at the state's level.
However, its scheduled introduction from April this year is now in doubt with some states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu calling for its postponement.
In fact, the BJP had also opposed the introduction of GST from the beginning of the next fiscal. BJP's support in Parliament would be crucial for carrying out constitutional amendments for GST implementation, which would require three-fourth majority and approval by half of the states.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 08, 2010, 21:56