The meeting saw detailed presentations on the performance of CGST and Customs zones, highlighting progress and challenges across registration, return filing, audits, investigations, grievance redressal, and customs operations.
The Conclave was attended by Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary, Department of Revenue; Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, CBIC; members of the CBIC Board; and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, the government in a press statement said.
Key performance highlights:
• GST Compliance: National average for GSTR-3B filing in FY 2024–25 stood at a robust 94.3%.
• Refunds: 85% of refund claims were processed within the statutory 60-day period.
• Audit & Enforcement: GST audit coverage increased to 88.74% from 62.21% in FY 2022–23. GST evasion detected stood at ₹2.23 lakh crore, with voluntary payments at ₹28,909 crore.
• Grievance Redressal: Average time for grievance resolution dropped to 9 days—well below the 21-day benchmark. CBIC has maintained a top-5 rank among 90 central ministries on CPGRAMS since February 2024.
• Customs Facilitation: Risk Management System (RMS) facilitated 86% of cargo in 2025, improving from 82% in 2022.
• Gold Disposal: 2,140 kg of seized gold was handed over to SPMCIL in FY 2024–25 for effective disposal.
FM’s directives and vision:
Sitharaman exhorted CBIC to focus on the following:
• Simplify GST Registration: Streamline processes using technology and risk-based filters; ensure transparency and ease for applicants.
• Awareness Campaigns: Launch targeted outreach to taxpayers, trade bodies, and associations—especially on documentation requirements for the ‘Principal Place of Business’ in GST applications.
• Dedicated Helpdesks: Set up specialized helpdesks for GST registrations at zonal levels to support applicants and reduce rejection rates.
• Strengthen GST Seva Kendras & Customs Suvidha Kendras: Ensure these centres are fully staffed, accessible, and effective in providing taxpayer support.
• Enhance Grievance Redressal: Dedicate zonal teams to expedite complaint resolution through CPGRAMS; maintain CBIC’s top ranking in responsiveness.
• Speed Up Investigations: Ensure timely closure of Customs and CGST cases, and work towards narrowing the gap between tax detection and actual recovery.
• Reduce Dwell Time: Expedite import and export clearance at ports, airports, and ICDs to boost India’s global logistics performance and reduce trade costs.
• Faster Refunds: Accelerate GST and Customs refund processing, particularly to support MSMEs and exporters.
• Staffing & Accountability: Expedite filling of vacant posts and conclude pending disciplinary cases to improve field efficiency and morale.
Tech push for trade facilitation
Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, inaugurated the ICETAB device—a digital tool designed to streamline export examinations. The initiative is expected to reduce transaction costs and turnaround time, thereby enhancing India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
Sitharaman appreciated CBIC’s performance but urged zonal leadership to submit actionable feedback to CBIC headquarters to further enhance systems, taxpayer services, and operational efficiency.
