Central Sales Tax to go in 2 years

The Parliament on Wednesday approved a legislation to further amend the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 and facilitate smooth functioning of the Appellate Authority with the Rajya Sabha returning the bill by a voice vote.

Moving the Central Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2005, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the government will phase out the central sales tax in two or three years.

The amendment would enable government to appoint the chairman and the member (legal) of the Appellate Authority for advance rulings and to provide operational flexibility in functioning of the Authority.

The amendment provides that appeals before the Appellate Authority lie only against orders of the "highest Appellate Authority" in a state and not against orders of the assessing authority.

It would also increase the time limit for filing of appeal before the Authority from 45 days to 90 days.