Ministry Of Finance Govt. Of India — Corruption in daily life due to high GST rates

Address:

Wakad Pune

Respected Finance Minister,

I wish to bring to your notice about the loss of GST revenue in many retail businesses across India due to high GST rates which pinch a common person who already pays regular taxes to the government in various forms in every white transaction. I wish to bring your attention to a particular area of corruption which is sports and fitness. You will agree to the fact that sports and fitness are nor recreational or entertainment activites but more about essential healthy living practice. Currently you have levied 18% GST on all fitness centers and sports complexes, where people engage in learning and practicing various sports and fitness activities. These centers openly ask for cash payments without receipt. If you want receipt, then they issue with 18% GST. Choice is left to the person whether to pay additional 18% and claim receipt or pay in cash and save on tax for himself but indirectly promote black money generation in system. An honest tax payer who already pays tax in every transaction he does, why do you think he will pay more if there is an opportunity to avoid it?
Believe it or not, more than 90% trainees prefer to pay in cash and a oid 18% additional burden on their pocket. So what is the govt getting really? Instead of you bring down the tax rate to 2-3% and enforce digital transactions / online payment 100%, I am absolutely sure that govt will actually get more revenue than it is going to personal pockets of administration employees and politicians of relevant ministry. To confirm my complaint, you may check out secretly what is happening in Balewadi Sports complex Pune where lawn tennis training is controlled by Maharashtra Tennis association. I am sure all other sports activities may also be involved in solar practice and major fee collection is in cash which goes to personal pockets of entire corrupt chain and govt gets nothing as hardly anyone prefers to pay 18% tax to get the receipt. As such Lawn tennis is not a cheap game to afford and such exorbitant charges make it more unaffordable. No wonder we rarely produce world class players in any sport other than cricket. I would appreciate if you could look into this matter and create for friendly tax rates to 3mvourage people to pay taxes without squeezing them to death and forcing them to avoid compliance.
Thanks and Regards
Sanjay Deshpande
Retired Private Sector Professional