Kolkata Gears Up for GST Tribunal Debut Amid Revenue Concerns

The eagerly awaited GST Tribunal in Kolkata is set to commence operations next month, according to officials. It will feature two benches located in Alipore, aimed at addressing disputes arising from regions including West Bengal, Sikkim, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

A senior official, Shrawan Kumar, highlighted that these are part of the 73 approved GSTAT benches across India, with only 28 currently active. The Tribunal serves as a crucial quasi-judicial body for hearing appeals against orders from first appellate authorities under GST laws.

Amid the tribunal's launch, West Bengal faces significant revenue concerns. With revised GST brackets reducing to two primary rates of 5% and 18%, officials project a drop in the weighted average GST rate to 9.5%. This could affect short-term revenue, but the long-term expectation is an increase in consumption and tax base expansion.