GST Council reforms automate processes and reduce compliance burdens

The GST Council's 57th meeting introduced major reforms designed to streamline paperwork, registration, return filing, refunds, and litigation processes.

The changes aim to reduce human discretion by automating registrations, processing refunds through computer verification, and curbing GST officer powers.

A newly formed committee will resolve input tax credit eligibility issues by April 1, while arrest powers and inspection rules are being scaled back to ease taxpayer friction.