Bhatti Vikramarka pushes for GSTN, GST Council offices in Hyderabad | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad is not only centrally located but has emerged as one of the country’s leading technology hubs with the expertise needed to strengthen GST administration, Bhatti said at the 57th GST Council meeting

Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister and finance minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday urged the Centre to establish regional offices of the GST Network (GSTN) and the GST Council Secretariat in Hyderabad, arguing that the city’s strong technology, data analytics and artificial intelligence ecosystem made it an ideal location for technology-driven tax administration.Addressing the 57th GST Council meeting, Bhatti said Hyderabad is not only centrally located but has emerged as one of the country’s leading technology hubs with the expertise needed to strengthen GST administration. Establishing regional offices in the city, he said, would bring the GST framework closer to states and enhance technology-based systems to detect tax evasion and fraud.Emphasising the need to safeguard states’ fiscal interests, Bhatti said GST reforms should strike a balance between easing compliance for honest taxpayers and maintaining strict action against deliberate tax evasion.He said GST was built on mutual trust, with states having surrendered substantial taxation powers in the belief that a unified national market would boost economic growth. The Centre and states, he said, should function as equal partners, with major policy changes being implemented through consultation and consensus.Bhatti backed automatic GST registration in appropriate cases, automated processing of registration amendments and cancellations, and faster refunds for low-risk taxpayers. These measures, he said, would reduce compliance burdens while allowing tax authorities to focus on high-risk cases.Welcoming efforts to rationalise penalties and reduce random stoppage of goods vehicles, he suggested refinements in GST return filing to minimise discrepancies and avoid unnecessary notices to genuine taxpayers. He also called for clearer guidelines and circulars to ensure uniform implementation across states.At the same time, Bhatti sought stringent action against GST fraud, fake registrations, and identity theft. He said Aadhaar and PAN details of elderly persons, homemakers, daily-wage workers and other vulnerable individuals were allegedly being misused to create fraudulent GST registrations.He also flagged widespread tax evasion in the scrap sector and proposed the formation of a group of ministers to examine issues relating to scrap trade fraud and identity theft while protecting the livelihoods of small collectors dependent on the sector.Seeking greater representation for Telangana in GST bodies, Bhatti said the state had not received adequate representation in key committees despite being among the country’s most active tax bases.He also urged the Centre to support export-oriented states such as Telangana and provide them with adequate incentives. Additionally, he sought a transparent share for states from the health security and national security cesses.GST impact on TelanganaBhatti said GST contributes about 35% of Telangana’s own tax revenue and funds critical sectors such as education, healthcare, welfare and infrastructure. He cautioned that proposed changes to GST refunds could significantly impact state finances.While the Centre estimated an annual revenue loss of around Rs 800 crore for Telangana from motor vehicle refund changes, the state’s assessment indicated the actual loss could be more than double that amount.