Haryana ranks 4th in input tax credit frauds

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16

Recently, Gurugram Zonal Unit of Directorate General of GST Intelligence arrested one Ravinder Kumar in connection with input tax credit (ITC) fraud worth Rs 43 crore.

This is not a lone example, but Haryana has the fourth highest cases pertaining to issuance of fake invoices to get benefit of ITC from July 2017 to December 2020. As many as 3,852 fraud cases were unearthed across the country during this period. Maharashtra topped the list with 668 cases followed by Tamil Nadu (652), West Bengal (370) and Haryana (303), according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Finance Ministry.

MAHA tops the list

• During July 2017 to December 2020, 3,852 input tax credit fraud cases were unearthed across the country. Maharashtra topped the list with 668 cases followed by Tamil Nadu (652), West Bengal (370) and Haryana (303)

Tax officials said the use of fake invoices to avail ITC credit had been increasing and it was a cause for concern, especially at a time when revenue collection was depressed.

In terms of quantum of fraud, Haryana is at number three. Frauds worth Rs 4,489.90 crore were detected in Haryana between July 2017 and December 2020. In total, Rs 35,620.40 crore of ITC fraud was detected across the country during the period. Delhi topped the list with fraud worth Rs 7,922 crore followed by Maharashtra (Rs 7,147.50 crore). The modus operandi, according to the department, is setting up of fake companies, creating fake invoices and collecting illegal input tax credit.

In many such cases, officials found that GST registrations have been made by misusing KYC documents of other persons. A number of fictitious companies were floated by using PAN, Aadhaar and photographs of unknown persons to issue fake invoices and claim input tax credit.

To curb the menace, the ministry has created Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management to help with advance analytics and innovative technology utilising various data sources for a focused and targeted action by the enforcement wings.

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