LatestGoods & Service Tax (GST) 9 October 2026
GST Council Drops Arrest Powers, Boosts Penalty Limit
India's 57th GST Council has removed the authority of GST officers to arrest taxpayers and increased the minimum prosecution threshold to Rs 5 crore. The decision is intended to ease compliance pressure on smaller businesses while maintaining a tougher stance against large‑scale tax evasion, signalling a shift toward more balanced enforcement measures across the tax system.
Key change: The 57th GST Council has eliminated the power of GST officers to arrest taxpayers and increased the minimum prosecution amount to Rs 5 crore.
- Arrest authority removed to reduce confrontations.
- Higher threshold aims at curbing large‑scale evasion while easing pressure on small businesses.
- Full details in the Deccan Chronicle article.
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