Nagaland Taxes department organises GST awareness programme in Wokha

WOKHA — The Department of State Taxes on Wednesday conducted a one-day GST awareness programme at the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office in Wokha town. The initiative was aimed at enhancing awareness and compliance among drawing and disbursing officers (DDO), registered dealers, taxpayers and other stakeholders.

Deputy Commissioner of Wokha, Vineet Kumar, who attended the programme as the special guest, underscored the importance of tax collection in sustaining governance and public welfare.

“A strong government is in the interest of all sections of society,” he said adding that tax contributions, though modest at an individual level, collectively form the backbone of democratic stability.

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Kumar also highlighted the role of DDOs in ensuring effective tax compliance, noting that leakages in the system must be addressed through legal and ethical responsibility. He further emphasised that public contributions enable the government to provide essential services such as healthcare, education and environmental protection.

Delivering the keynote address, Assistant Commissioner of State Taxes (ACST), Kohima, M Yanrenthung Yanthan, stressed on the significance of GST registration, timely return filing and issuance of tax clearance certificates. He informed that the department has rolled out similar awareness programmes across six districts including Tuensang, Phek, Mokokchung, Wokha, Mon and Kohima.

“GST revenue growth in June was recorded at approximately 101%, which is encouraging. However, challenges remain in plugging leakages and strengthening compliance,” Yanrenthung said.

He reiterated the department’s commitment to engaging all stakeholders—government officials, contractors, suppliers and business communities—towards a more robust revenue system.

Technical sessions included live demonstrations on TDS registration and return filing procedures, which was conducted by Yanrenthung and the program officer (IT Branch), Sanen Longchar.

Assistant Commissioner of State Taxes, Wokha, M Chibeni Lotha, delivered the welcome address, aligning the initiative with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

In the second session, Commercial State Tax Officer, Wokha, Ongshau Phom, presented on GST registration and return filing, while Yarenthung elaborated on input tax credit. He also addressed payment and refund mechanisms and tax-related offences.

The programme concluded with an interactive session, where participants from various departments and business sectors sought clarifications on GST implementation and compliance.