Central GST authorities outscore states in detecting fake invoices

Compared to 225 such cases by states, the central GST officers caught hold of 396 incidents suggesting the latter are better equipped to enforce compliance.

New Delhi:The central GST authorities have outscored their state counterparts in detecting cases of fake invoices for claiming the input tax credit.

Compared to 225 such cases by states, the central GST officers caught hold of 396 incidents suggesting the latter are better equipped to enforce compliance.

"In a drive to curb tax evasion, CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) has reported the detection of 396 cases on fake invoices involving tax-evasion of Rs 5,887.54 crores. In the similar action all States/UTs have reported the detection of 225 cases on fake invoice cases involving tax evasion of Rs 1,314.77 crores," the GST Council Secretariat has said in its monthly bulletin for May.

The GST body did not specify the period in which the cases of fake invoices were detected.

A tax expert said that the Centre always had a better mechanism in place for apprehending tax evaders.

Their success in the detection of fake invoices is on expected lines and given the robust intelligence system created post-GST roll-out, the central authorities will have edge over the state tax officials.

The issue of fake invoices has emerged as a big headache for the government with tax authorities finding more and more rackets. In the latest case, the enforcement authorities busted a racket of procuring and supplying fake GST invoices by five firms without the actual supply of goods.

The Medchal Central GST Commissionerate under Hyderabad zone found these firms had allegedly availed ineligible Input Tax Credit (ITC) to the tune of Rs 22.64 crore.

The Finance Ministry is wary of the revenue leakage and wants the indirect tax body CBIC to tighten screw around evaders.

It has been holding marathon meetings to clamp down on firms involved in generating fake invoices.

"Once the systems of Income Tax Department and GST would start interacting with each other, it will be very difficult to create fake invoice and get away. The data-sharing exercise is on," said a revenue department official.