Ludhiana: In a big relief to businessmen who were not able to access their own GST (goods and services tax) account due to the lack of information on email ids, passwords and mobile numbers associated with their GSTIN (GST identification number), the finance ministry has issued instructions to create new passwords for them.
The move came after the ministry received many complaints from tax payers which stated that the intermediaries through whom they applied for GST numbers had used their own email ids and mobile numbers during the registration process and were now refusing to share these credentials with them.
Acting in the case, the finance ministry issued new instructions under which the tax payer can approach the concerned jurisdictional tax officer to get the new password for his/her GSTIN. After submitting identity proofs of himself and his occupation, the businessmen will be given a new password by the tax officer.
Once the ministry directives are implemented, the businessmen who were struggling to cope up with the system of GST (goods and services tax) and were unable to access to their own account in the absence of any credentials, can now update their email and mobile numbers by approaching the GST department.
Terming it a huge respite for the tax payers, Narinder Bhamra, president of Fastener Manufacturer Association of India, said, “This is good news for the businessmen who were not able to access their own GSTIN due to the intermediaries who were not sharing the passwords of their accounts and were not able to reset the passwords as they did not have any details about the email id and mobile numbers registered with their accounts. The problem was being faced by many businessmen. They were being fleeced by the intermediaries by charging exorbitantly for filing GST returns and other services.”
According to Atul Saggar, general secretary of Apparel Manufacturers Association, Ludhiana, “I welcome finance ministry’s move as it will give the business owner the right to have access to his account and he can reset the password as and when he prefers. Moreover, with this facility the businessmen can have full control over their GSTIN and monitor every transaction closely.”

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