Gujarat: The State Goods and Service Tax (GST) Department has launched a statewide search operation targeting coaching classes across Gujarat on suspicion of tax evasion. The operation, which began three days ago, spans more than 35 locations in the state, including 7 in Ahmedabad city. The coaching centers under investigation specialize in preparing students for competitive exams.

The searches are being conducted in major cities such as Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Vadodara, Surat, and Junagadh. The raids were triggered by complaints and feedback received by the GST Department, pointing towards potential discrepancies in tax filings by these coaching institutions.

The primary concern is that several coaching centers may not have been declaring the actual number of students enrolled, thereby underreporting their earnings and evading the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It is notable that a 18% GST is levied on coaching services, and authorities suspect that many operators have been underreporting their turnover to avoid paying the full tax amount.

The GST Department is continuing its investigation to ascertain the scale of the evasion and identify the individuals and institutions involved. DeshGujarat