GST: 5 undue profiteering cases reported

There have been 5 complaints in Rajasthan against undue profiteering under GST. A four-member committee which was set up by the ministry of finance after GST was implemented to receive the complaints of undue profiteering by any entity under the GST regime has got these complaints.

These complaints from the state are part of 70 complaints which have been received by this committee across the country. The highest number of complaints has been received in Haryana with 45 number of complaints while Rajasthan along with Andhra Pradesh is on number two in the list with 5-5 complaints each.

These complaints are now being examined by the state level screening committee. Interestingly, these complaints were received from only 11 states and the total number of complaints was 70. Rajasthan is one of these states in the list which includes apart from Rajasthan, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, states like Jharkhand, Maharashtra, National capital territory of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, Chattisgarh, and Tamilnadu.

While most of these states are considered more industrialize than Rajasthan, they all had complaints number less than Rajasthan.

Notably, section 171 of GST deals with rules related to anti-profiteering and a committee and the national anti-profiteering authority may determine the methodology and procedure for determination as to whether the reduction in rate of tax on the supply of goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit has been passed on by the registered person to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices.

The authority while examining the case may also order to reduce the price.

The complaints are currently being examined by the state level screening committee.

Screening panel

• The screening committee may examine if the supplier has contravened the provisions of section 171, forward the application with its recommendations to the Standing Committee for further action. 
• The authority may also order to reduce the price.