7 days ago
‘People are paying taxes out of confidence in govt, fear of non-payment': Gujarat CM
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said that people are now paying taxes with the confidence that the revenue is being used 'effectively' with government schemes 'reaching the most marginalised sections of society'. He also said the fear of strict action against non-payment has contributed to greater compliance.
Businesses, he said, are also paying Goods and Services Tax (GST) because they are receiving the necessary support from the government and their enterprises are performing well.
Patel was addressing a public meeting in Suigam village of Banaskantha district on Thursday, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 358.37 crore. He made the remarks in the context of Income Tax Day.
He said, 'Today is Income Tax Day… Today, many farmers have become income tax payers. Earlier, people used to run away from paying tax… Earlier, (people used to think that) when my neighbour is not paying the tax, why should I pay it… Now, people think that if the tax is not paid then it brings strict action. So, people pay the tax (also) with confidence that the income from tax is not only put to good use, but also that the benefit of government schemes has reached the most marginalised person. Its benefit has reached all.'
Referring to GST, the CM said, 'The point is that when will the business class pay the tax? Will anybody pay tax just like that? One will pay the tax if the business is doing good and is earning well.'
Without providing specifics, Patel said that Rs 2 lakh crore worth of GST had been collected in one month. 'The government is happy that it has made an income of Rs 2 lakh crore,' he said.
'If you want GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation) and business, then it requires facilities like roads, water, and electricity. If all these facilities are available, then good businesses are established. And when you do well, then you pay tax. It is a whole chain. Nobody is paying tax just like that. He (a businessman) will pay the tax when he gets all the facilities,' the CM said.
Patel was accompanied by Gujarat Assembly Speaker and Banaskantha MLA Shankar Chaudhary, state Industries Minister Balvantsinh Rajput, and others.
