FICO Demands GST Refunds
A delegation of the Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organization (FICO), under the leadership of Gurmeet Singh Kular, President, FICO, met Randhir Kaur, Deputy Commissioner State Taxes (DCST), Ludhiana Division, and submitted a memorandum highlighting various taxation-related issues affecting the industrial sector.
City Air News
Jul 22, 2026 06:11
0
Ludhiana, July 22, 2026: A delegation of the Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organization (FICO), under the leadership of Gurmeet Singh Kular, President, FICO, met Randhir Kaur, Deputy Commissioner State Taxes (DCST), Ludhiana Division, and submitted a memorandum highlighting various taxation-related issues affecting the industrial sector.
The delegation comprised Rajeev Jain, Senior Vice President, FICO; Avtar Singh Bhogal, Convenor, UCPMA; Satnam Singh Makkar, Propaganda Secretary, FICO; Ajit Lakra, Head – Textile Division, FICO; Yadwinder Singh Manku, Executive Member, FICO; and Dinesh Verma, Executive Member, FICO.
During the meeting, the delegation held detailed discussions with the Deputy Commissioner on the issues such as early disposal of pending GST Refunds, release of long-pending VAT Refunds, simplification of the four-stage verification process, unnecessary harassment by the mobile wing and rationalisation of the inverted duty structure.
FICO highlighted that several manufacturing sectors, including bicycles, bicycle parts, sewing machines, and agricultural implements, suffer due to the inverted duty structure, wherein raw materials attract GST at 18% while finished products are taxed at only 5%. This results in accumulation of Input Tax Credit and blockage of working capital. The organization requested that the issue be taken up with the higher authorities for suitable rationalisation of GST rates.
Randhir Kaur, Deputy Commissioner State Taxes (DCST), Ludhiana Division, patiently heard the issues raised by the delegation and assured them that genuine concerns relating to pending refunds and procedural difficulties would be examined sympathetically. She appreciated FICO for bringing constructive suggestions and reaffirmed the department's commitment to ensuring a transparent, efficient, and taxpayer-friendly tax administration.
