The Kerala State Goods and Services Tax (GST) Department has implemented the e-way bill requirement for transporting gold within the state from today. The provision, which was initially introduced on January 1, was temporarily suspended due to technical issues in the state GST portal. According to GST Commissioner Ajit Patil, the implementation has now proceeded following the resolution of these technical glitches.
The department had issued an order on December 27 making it mandatory to generate an e-way bill for the transportation of gold worth more than Rs 10 lakh. The requirement applies regardless of whether the gold is purchased for sale or other purposes from unregistered persons.
The rule mandates an e-way bill when transporting gold, silver, and platinum jewellery valued at Rs 10 lakh or more for purposes such as sale, job work, stock transfers, and exhibitions. The document must include comprehensive details of the transported goods.
An e-way bill is an electronic document required for the movement of goods valued above a certain threshold under the GST regime. It serves as proof of the transportation of goods and contains details such as the consignor, consignee, goods being transported, and the vehicle details. The primary purpose of the e-way bill is to ensure compliance with tax regulations and prevent tax evasion
However, concerns have been raised by the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association regarding ambiguities in the implementation of the regulation. The association, represented by State President B. Govindan, General Secretary K. Surendran, and Treasurer S. Abdul Nassar, submitted a memorandum to Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal seeking clarifications on various aspects of the e-way bill requirement. According to the association, their concerns remain unaddressed.
Key areas of uncertainty include the applicability of the e-way bill to short-distance movements within 50 km, courier services, e-commerce operators, non-supply stock transfers, exhibitions, repairs, and job work. Questions also remain on whether the bill applies when gold is carried by individuals on foot. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the Rs 10 lakh threshold refers to the taxable value or the invoice value, which includes tax.
The association has also pointed out the lack of clarity regarding the movement of gold from Kerala to other states. The absence of clear guidelines on these aspects, according to the association, creates confusion among traders and businesses involved in the gold trade.
