The Finance Ministry is seeking inputs from industry on tax rates as it prepares the next budgetary proposals. "You may...send your suggestions for changes in the duty structure, rates and broadening of tax base on both direct and indirect taxes giving economic justification for the same," an official release said. The views have been sought in the context of formulating the proposals for the Union Budget of 2012-13, it said. The tax collection targets are under pressure amid slowing industrial activities. The government is aiming to collect about Rs 10 lakh crore in taxes this fiscal.
On the Direct Tax Code (DTC), which was introduced in Parliament and is likely to become effective from April 2012, the ministry has asked the industry to send only those proposals "which are urgent in nature".
The Constitutional Amendment Bill on introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will overhaul the country's indirect tax regime, has also been introduced in Parliament and is currently with a Parliamentary Standing Committee. As the Finance Ministry has already started the process of preparing the Budget 2012-13, the industry and trade have been asked to submit their suggestions by November 15. The Union Budget is presented in the last week of February. By bringing in DTC and GST bills in Parliament, the government proposes to broadbase the tax regime, besides simplifying the compliance process.
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