Traders' body plea to TN Chief Minister

Chennai, Jul 16: The Tamil Nadu Traders Federation today appealed to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi not to implement Value Added Tax (VAT) at any cost in the state as 'it would affect the interest of lakhs of retail traders besides encouraging corrupt practices.' Mr T Vellaiyan and Mr K Mohan, President and general secretary respectively of the federation told newsmen after its state and district office-bearers meeting here that a resolution to the effect was adopted at the meeting.

The implementation of VAT would also pave way for further price increase of essential commodities which was proved in the VAT- introduced states in the country.

They also appealed to Mr Karunanidhi to withdraw immediately the levy of Resale Tax which was introduced in the state as forerunner of VAT.

The meeting expressed its concern over the Tamil Nadu Government's 'failure' to invite the representatives of the federation for the recently conducted pre-budget advisory-cum-suggestion meeting held under the leadership of State Finance Minister K Anbazhagan.

They said the meeting wanted the present ceiling of Rs three lakh annual turnover for levy of Sales Tax be increased up to Rs ten lakh withdrawal of taxes on wheat, wheat flour, sooji, dhal nd edible oil, besides reducing tax on handmade soaps by four per cent.

The meeting wanted the government exempt tax, Additional Tax and Surcharge on raw materials purchased inside the country by manufacturers and withdraw the Compound Tax system on small hoteliers.

They also wanted the existing rules and norms be relaxed on the issuance of registration certificate (RC Number) to put an end to the 'untold harassment of Enforcement Wing officials of the Commercial Tax against innocent traders in the name of surprise checks by relaxing the existing rules.' The Central and State Governments should ban online trading immediately as it would affect both traders and consumers.

The meeting appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government to reactivate the functioning of the state traders welfare board by restructuring the existing board with representatives from each and every district of the state.

UNI