GST council meet: E-way bill from April, says Arun Jaitley

Briefing reporters about the GST Council meet in New Delhi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the electronic way or e-way bill for movement of goods between states will be implemented from April 1.

The GST Council extended the present system of return filing by three months and GST council Businesses will continue to file summary sales return GSTR-3B till June.

However, for intra-state movement, the e-way bill would be rolled out in a phased manner beginning April 15 and will cover all the states by June 1.

An e-way bill is required for movement of goods worth more than Rs 50,000. When goods are transported for less than 10 km within the state, the supplier or the transporter need not furnish details on the portal. Besides plugging tax evasion, the e-way bill is supposed to boost revenues by 15-20 per cent.

The Council could not decide on a simplified GST return form and entrusted the ministerial panel under Sushil Modi to chalk out a single page form which is simpler and evasion proof.

Tax exemptions to exporters have also been extended by six months to September.

(With inputs from PTI)