Various industrial associations have raised objections to the new VAT form which is being introduced by the state Excise and Taxation Department for filing quarterly returns.

The Punjab Tax Bar Association maintains it should be introduced from April 1, 2013. The members said they had met new excise and taxation commissioner Anurag Verma and apprised him of the confusion about the VAT form on pages 15,18,19, 23 and 24.

Ashok Juneja, president of Punjab Tax Bar Association, said, "It is very difficult to file returns as per the new format. By January 31, the form has to be implemented but the industrialists are urging the department to extend its date of implementation to April 1."

Juneja added that they had received representations from various district tax bar associations in this regard.

A few days back, members of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal had also met Verma and discussed the issue with him.

B R Kaushal, secretary general of the association, said that the proposed form should be simplified.

Varinder Sharma, president of Ludhiana Taxation Bar Association, said, "Public should be informed at least three months before implementing something new."