Pay GST online using debit or credit cards: revenue secretary

The Goods and Services Tax, the new indirect tax regime that will be rolled out from 1 April 2017, envisages online registration, returns, refunds filing and payment processes online. It will also enable individuals and entities taxes online using debit or credit cards.

Once the GST is rolled out, tax payments can be made online using credit or debit cards, revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said on Sunday.

"With regard to payments, the best thing that will happen is all payments will have to be made online. You can use any mode of payment, electronic, NEFT, RTGS. You can do it through debit cards or credit cards of any bank.

"You need not open account in banks of government. Even if you have account in a private bank you can transfer money and it will reach the government," Adhia said while addressing the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit in Bhopal.

He said since the entire country will become a single market under GST, it will be easier for traders and industry to access input tax credit and also ease compliance burden.

"I would ask the states to focus on the services sector because industry will come on its own once demand increases," Adhia said.

He said India is now taking several reform measures and GST is the biggest tax reform since Independence, adding that GST will also ensure that the taxes deducted by sellers reach the government.

Asked what will happen to excise duty benefits currently enjoyed by units in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Northeastern and hilly states, Adhia said they will be protected in a similar manner.

"Instead of giving direct exemptions, we will take it through the Government of India s budgetary route," he said.