Denial of an opportunity to examine or cross-examine a person whose transactions formed the basis for treating amounts as suppressed turnover prejudices the taxpayer where the transaction's nature is materially disputed. The taxpayer sought to establish that the amounts were advances rather than turnover, and the taxpayer's documents and books-of-account data also required consideration. Fresh adjudication is required after permitting examination of the material person and considering the relevant records.

Alleged bribery in GST inquiry closure led to the arrest of a Sales Tax Assistant Commissioner after a scrap trader complained of a demand for illegal gratification to close an inquiry initiated through a GST show-cause notice. Anti-corruption officials reportedly verified the allegation through intermediaries, during which the officer allegedly agreed to accept payment for closing the matter. A criminal case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with further investigation ongoing.

Net direct tax collections increased by 23 per cent to over Rs 8.11 lakh crore through August 10, driven by higher non-corporate tax collections and slower refund growth. Gross direct tax collections grew by 19.75 per cent to about Rs 9.55 lakh crore. Net corporate tax collections rose about 20 per cent, net non-corporate tax collections rose 23 per cent, and Securities Transaction Tax collections increased 51 per cent. Refund issuances grew by 3.8 per cent year-on-year.

Vicarious criminal liability for cheque dishonour under section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act does not extend to a trust, because a trust is not a juristic person. A person cannot be summoned merely for alleged active involvement in a trust where the person was neither drawer nor signatory of the cheques, trustee, office-bearer, authorised account operator, guarantor, or executor of transaction documents.

Cross-border payment integration is under discussion through potential linkages between central bank digital currencies and fast payment systems, including UPI-type platforms. These approaches seek faster and less costly trade and remittance transfers, particularly retail payments, but remain at a discussion stage. Rupee internationalisation is also being pursued through central-bank memorandums of understanding for bilateral trade settlement in local currencies, with existing arrangements covering Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius and the UAE.

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan provides an integrated, data-driven infrastructure planning framework using geospatial data, satellite imagery and API integration. Project approval, implementation and funding remain with the respective Central Ministries, Departments and States or Union Territories under their own plans and budgetary provisions; the framework sets no separate budgetary allocation or quantified targets. The Network Planning Group evaluates critical Central Government projects at the planning stage for multimodality, synchronisation, last-mile connectivity, comprehensive local development and coordinated decision-making.

GeM uses AI/ML analytics to detect order splitting, suspicious bidding, abnormal pricing, repeated participation and potential buyer-seller collusion. Flagged cases are placed before buyer organisations for review and action, while suspected cartels are assessed through digital-footprint, pricing and bid-timing indicators. Its Incident Management framework addresses false documents, fraud, collusive behaviour and other misconduct through administrative measures, including suspension. Anti-competitive conduct and cartel formation are Severe/Grave deviations, with proven cases attracting suspension for up to 365 days.

Late fee for delayed furnishing of details of outward supplies in FORM GSTR-1 is waived to the extent it exceeds prescribed ceilings for tax periods commencing June 2021 or quarters ending June 2021 onwards. The ceiling is Rs. 250 for persons having nil outward supplies, Rs. 1,000 for other persons with preceding financial-year turnover up to Rs. 1.5 crore, and Rs. 2,500 for those with turnover above Rs. 1.5 crore and up to Rs. 5 crore. The waiver operates from 1 June 2021.

Section 148 special-procedure treatment under the Arunachal Pradesh GST framework is amended for project completion or first occupation. The timing requirement is changed from liability arising on the date of issuance of the project completion certificate, where required, or first occupation, whichever is earlier. The concerned persons must instead comply in a tax period no later than the tax period in which the earlier of the completion-certificate date or first-occupation date falls.

Net direct tax collections grew by 23.09 per cent to over Rs 8.11 lakh crore up to August 10 of the current fiscal year, while gross direct tax collections increased by 19.75 per cent to about Rs 9.55 lakh crore. Corporate tax, non-corporate tax including personal income tax, and Securities Transaction Tax receipts recorded growth. Refunds issued between April 1 and August 10 also rose over the corresponding earlier period. Direct tax collections are budgeted at Rs 26.97 lakh crore for the fiscal year.

GST refund allowed in appeal or another forum after rejection in FORM GST RFD-06 requires a fresh FORM GST RFD-01 application under the category for assessment, provisional assessment, appeal or other order. The claimant need not re-debit the electronic credit ledger, as the original debit remains unrecredited during the appeal. The proper officer sanctions the allowed amount through FORM GST RFD-06 and FORM GST RFD-05, while any amount remaining rejected is re-credited subject to prescribed safeguards.

Unallotted share application money made available to an associated enterprise beyond a reasonable period, and trade receivables extended beyond six months, may constitute international transactions; notional interest on foreign-currency remittances should be benchmarked to LIBOR rather than Indian bank PLR. Captive software development providers should not be compared with companies having significant brand value, product revenue, diversification, restructuring, exceptional scale or unavailable segmental results, and negative working-capital adjustments are inappropriate where the provider bears no working-capital risk. Section 14A disallowance is capped at exempt income, section 10A deduction is computed undertaking-wise before loss set-off, and commercially expedient club-membership expenditure is deductible. Depreciation, capital-gains, TDS-credit and distributed-profit interest claims require factual verification.

Wheat exporters holding authorisations under HS codes 10011900 and 10019910 must report quota utilisation, shipping bill details, additional quantity requirements, and any proposed surrender by August 31, 2026. Requests for additional quota must also be submitted through the online portal with supporting justification and available export contracts or purchase orders; incomplete, offline-only, or late requests will be rejected. Authorisations with utilisation exceeding 50% may be considered for further allocation. Where utilisation is below 50%, unutilised quantities may move to a common pool unless valid contracts or purchase orders are produced. Non-compliance may lead to quota reallocation and exclusion from future restricted export authorisations.

Guidance concerning GST treatment of secondary or post-sales discounts is withdrawn ab initio under the power to issue instructions for uniform implementation of the Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax law. The withdrawal follows concerns expressed about the implications of the earlier guidance and is intended to secure consistency across field formations. No operative clarification in the withdrawn guidance remains effective from its inception.

Telangana SGST late-fee relief for delayed FORM GSTR-3B returns is rationalised by granting turnover-based waiver periods for March, April and May 2021. Delayed returns for July 2017 through April 2021 furnished between 1 June and 31 August 2021 are subject to capped late fees, with a lower cap where state tax payable is nil. For tax periods from June 2021 onwards, late fees are capped according to nil tax liability and preceding-year aggregate turnover.

Privately placed municipal debt securities may have a face value of Rs. One Lakh or Rs. Ten Thousand; lower-face-value securities require fixed maturity and cannot have structured obligations. Pooled finance vehicles and special purpose vehicles must maintain a two-step escrow arrangement, including interest payment and sinking fund accounts, and retain one year's interest obligation in the interest payment account. Listed municipalities must submit half-yearly unaudited results within sixty days and annual audited results with the audit report within ninety days.

The explanation excluding activities or transactions undertaken by Government and local authorities from "business" under the concessional-rate entry operates from 21 September 2017. Inserted within one year under section 11(3) of the RGST Act, it has effect as though it formed part of the original notification. A stated later commencement date does not alter its operation from the inception of the entry.

DGFT advises heightened vigilance in dealings with M/s Legoy Powersports, Thimphu, and M/s Druk A-Z Store, Thimphu, following unresolved complaints and lack of substantive cooperation. Trade stakeholders must conduct comprehensive due diligence, assess transaction risks, sensitise trade participants, and consider the concerns when processing applications, extending credit support, providing trade facilitation, or issuing certifications. Adverse experiences, payment-related issues, contractual disputes, and other relevant information should be promptly reported to DGFT.

Mildly heat-treated dried legumes without added ingredients retain their dried-legume classification; branded, unit-container-packed goods attract 5% GST and other such goods are exempt. Almond milk falls under the residual beverage classification and attracts 18% GST. Mechanical sprayers of all types attract 12% GST. Qualifying temporary lease imports are exempt from IGST subject to bond, re-export, non-disposal, and tax-payment conditions. Eligible solar-water-heater components attract 5% GST, while parts solely or principally used with specified medical devices are classified with those devices and attract 12% IGST.

Furnishing of outward-supply details in FORM GSTR-1 for registered persons filing monthly returns under section 39(1) of the Telangana GST Act is extended for the April 2021 and May 2021 tax periods. The due date is the twenty-sixth day of the month succeeding the relevant tax period. The amendment takes effect from 1 May 2021.