GST wing detects tax evasion of ₹7.56 crore at railway vehicle parking facilities

The Intelligence and Enforcement Wing of the State Goods and Services Tax (GST) department detected tax evasion amounting to ₹7.56 crore during joint inspections conducted across vehicle parking facilities at railway stations in the State on September 16 .

Inspections were carried out at 69 locations, including the main places of business, residences, and additional business premises, linked to 22 parking service providers within railway premises in Keralam. The inspections revealed that the turnover reported by the taxpayers in their returns was significantly lower than the actual turnover generated from the services they provided. Instances of financial transactions involving the use of multiple QR codes were also detected in the inspections.

The inspections prima facie uncovered a turnover suppression of ₹42 crore and tax evasion of ₹7.56 crore. Data regarding the business transactions of 13 taxpayers was retrieved from software systems, while information concerning the others was gathered from account books, registers, and mobile chat records. A more detailed investigation into the matter is currently under way, said a statement from the State Goods and Services Tax Commissioner here on Friday (September 18).

The State GST Intelligence wing has collected data on over a thousand vehicle parking facilities located at KSRTC depots, hospitals, malls, and cinema theatres. Inspections will continue at locations suspected of such tax evasion. If the public comes across any instances of tax evasion in this sector, they can report the information to the email address [email protected], the statement said.

The State Goods and Services Tax Commissioner also announced that the department will continue to take stringent investigative and enforcement actions against establishments engaging in tax evasion.