Businessmen and Punjab Tax Bar Association to Protest at District Centers Over GST Refund
If GST refunds are not issued soon, the Punjab Tax Bar Association, along with various business organizations across Punjab, will stage protests at district centers. This statement was made by Anil Sarin, President of the Punjab Tax Bar Association.
City Air News
Jul 19, 2025 11:47
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Ludhiana, July 19, 2025: If GST refunds are not issued soon, the Punjab Tax Bar Association, along with various business organizations across Punjab, will stage protests at district centers. This statement was made by Anil Sarin, President of the Punjab Tax Bar Association.
Under the leadership of newly elected President Anil Sarin, a heated meeting was held today in Ludhiana. The main issue discussed was the non-issuance of GST refunds by the Punjab government for the past three months.
The Punjab government is deliberately not issuing RFD-5 (the order for payment release). If the Punjab government does not upload RFD-5 on the GST portal, the central government cannot release the GST refunds. As a result, crores of rupees in working capital for businessmen remain blocked.
Under the GST Act, if a trader delays depositing GST, they are required to pay interest at 18% per annum. However, if the government fails to issue a GST refund within 60 days, it must pay the trader interest at 6% per annum. The responsible officer for this delay will have to bear this interest amount.
The Punjab government has not issued any GST refunds for nearly 90 days, while the central GST department has been releasing refunds smoothly. When businessmen try to file applications to claim the 6% interest, department officials refuse to accept their applications and even intimidate them into not filing.
Anil Sarin stated that efforts are being made to contact higher authorities, but due to their busy schedules, no meeting has taken place yet.
During the meeting, it was decided that if GST refunds are not issued soon, the Tax Bar Associations of all districts, along with state business organizations, will hold protests and sit-ins. Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Finance Department will be informed about the issue.
