New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) The announcement of new date for the roll out of GST was deferred until month-end today as the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is preoccupied with preparations for the next Budget.

"We will meet by month end and hope to finalise the dates and rates," Empowered Committee of state finance ministers Asim Dasgupta told reporters, amid speculation that GST may not be implemented from April 1, 2010, as was scheduled earlier.

After the meeting with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee, Dasgupta said, "Regarding GST, he (Mukherjee) requested for some more time because of his preoccupation with the preparation of Union Budget. He requested us to come to him for discussion on a little later date within this month," Dasgupta said.

Dasgupta had said earlier that states and the Union Finance Ministry would announce new dates for introduction of GST after the meeting.

GST rollout deferred; implementation dates and rates to be finalised by month-end after budget preparations. The announcement of the GST rollout date has been deferred after the Union Finance Minister requested additional time due to Union Budget preparations; the Empowered Committee will meet by month-end to finalise the implementation timetable and tax rates, acknowledging that the previously targeted start date may not be met and limiting the change to a procedural postponement pending agreement.