Textile GST dues to be refunded in 20 days

The Centre has promised to refund the entire pending claims of textile exporters under GST and IGST (Integrated GST) in 15-20 days. In a meeting held recently with the Textile Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) and other associations, Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal agreed to clear the dues arising out of ROSL (Refund of State Levies) of textile exporters in 15 days by providing the required funds. He also said all pending claims under GST and IGST will be refunded in 15-20 days.

Further, Goyal promised to consider the Pillai committee recommendations on duty drawback and examine issues of embedded taxes for all textile products. The Centre will review ROSL rates for made-ups and look at alternative export promotion schemes in consultation with the Commerce Ministry, said Texprocil Chairman Ujwal R Lahoti.

Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by Textile Minister Smriti Irani, Lahoti said cotton textiles exports, which rose 7 per cent to $11 billion last fiscal, can touch $20 billion in five years if the Centre supports the sector. This could include policy measures such as refund of embedded taxes as recognised by the Economic Survey 2017-18, extension of ROSL scheme (which refunds State levies such as VAT on fuel used in transportation and generation of captive power, mandi tax, duty on electricity and stamp duties on export documents), as well as speedy refund of GST, IGST claims.