GST: E-Way Bill Implementation Deferred Due To Glitches

Centre defers implementation of requirement to carry e-permits for inter-state transportation of goods.

PTI @PTI_News

01 Feb 2018, 10:39 PM IST

A truck pulls out from toll booths at the Manesar toll plaza on National Highway 8 (NH 8) in Manesar, Haryana, India. (Photographer: Udit Kulshrestha/Bloomberg)

The government today deferred implementation of requirement to carry e-permits for inter-state transportation of goods following technical glitches.

GST provision requiring transporters to carry an electronic waybill or e-way bill when moving goods between states was to be implemented from today to check rampant tax evasion.

In view of difficulties faced by the trade in generating e-way bill due to initial technological glitches, it has been decided to extend the trial phase for generation of e-way bill, both for inter and intra state movement of goods. It'll be applicable from a date to be notified
— CBEC (@CBEC_India) February 1, 2018

After implementation of the Goods and Services Tax from July 1, the requirement of carrying e-way bill was postponed pending IT network readiness.

Also Read: E-Way Bills: How Should Businesses Prepare?

GST Network, the company developing the information technology backbone for the new indirect tax regime, had been conducting trial runs for the e-way bill system since Jan. 17, during which a whopping 2.84 lakh such permits were issued on the portal.

However, with the formal launch of the e-way bill today, the system witnessed technical glitches.

Along with inter-state e-way bill generation by all states, 17 states also started generating such permits for intra-state movement of goods, which created pressure on the portal, according to people familiar with the matter. Central Board of Excise and Customs Chairperson Vanaja Sarna today held a review meeting to discuss on streamlining the system.

Also Read: Ten States Join E-Way Bill Platform As GSTN Starts Trial Run

The GST Council had on Dec. 16 decided to implement the e-way bill mechanism for intra-state movement of goods from June 1 and from Feb. 1 for inter-state movement. Movement of goods of more than Rs 50,000 in value cannot be made by a registered person without an e-way bill.

The e-way bill can also be generated or cancelled through SMS. When an e-way bill is generated, a unique e-way bill number is allocated and is available to the supplier, recipient, and the transporter.

Transporters, who want to generate e-way bill, can visit the 'ewaybill.nic.in' portal and register themselves by giving the GSTIN. Transporters, who are not registered under GST, can enrol themselves under e-way bill system by providing their PAN or Aadhaar to generate the e-way bill.

The bill is expected to bring uniformity across the states for seamless inter-state movement of goods.