Maharashtra: Transporters fume over ‘delayed tax’ penalty now – Times of India

MUMBAI: State transporters, who had received tax exemptions from the government for the pandemic-induced lockdown, are now worried that they will end up paying more-—due to penalty now being levied for ‘late payment’. Transporters’ associations plan to write to the government to demand a waiver on the penalties as this has added to the truck owners’ burdens.
“It’s not justified on one hand a waiver is given, and on the other, penalties levied,” said Bal Malkit Singh, All India Motor Transport Congress. “The penalties must be adjusted in tax payments. We will take this up with transport commissioner Avinash Dhakne.”
Abhishek Gupta from Bombay Goods Transport Association said: “During lockdown, the ministry gave time to pay road tax and permits, and gave exemptions. Shockingly, there is a delay penalty charged now-—which is almost equal to the tax amount in a few cases. This implies that a truck owner who couldn’t pay due to the lockdown must pay double tax.”
During a discussion with state officials a few months earlier, it was decided there will be “no penalty on payment of taxes for the waiver period and there will be adjustment of penalty already paid”, Singh added. “It was agreed the computer system (which generates tax receipts) will be updated accordingly. This has not been updated and penalty is still being levied for a delay,” he said. Officials from the transport department were unavailable for comment.