The Jaipur Tax Bar Association (JTBA), in collaboration with the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT), Jaipur Bench, successfully organized a GSTAT Outreach Programme on Friday at the Conference Hall of the Zonal Tax Building, Jhalana Doongri, Jaipur. 

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from tax professionals and provided a platform for direct interaction with GSTAT officials on procedural and practical issues relating to GST appeals.

The programme was primarily focused on the process of filing appeals through the newly launched GSTAT portal, addressing practical challenges being faced by professionals, and facilitating direct interaction between stakeholders and Tribunal authorities.

The event witnessed the presence of senior members of the GST Appellate Tribunal, including Hon’ble Shri Vishesh Sharma, Vice President (Rajasthan) and Judicial Member, GSTAT Jaipur Bench; Hon’ble Shri Hemant Bajaj, Judicial Member; and Hon’ble Shri Sunil Kumar Sinha, Technical Member. Senior registry officials, including Deputy Registrar Shri Suresh Chaudhary and Assistant Registrar Shri Satyendra Shekhawat, along with other officers of the GSTAT Jaipur Bench, were also present.

More than 125 participants attended the programme, including advocates, chartered accountants, tax practitioners, and other professionals associated with the indirect tax ecosystem. Given the commencement of GSTAT operations and the opening of the appeal filing process, the programme was widely regarded as timely and highly beneficial for the professional community.

Guidance on GSTAT Operations and Appeal Filing

Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Shri Vishesh Sharma stated that GSTAT is expected to become fully operational shortly and that the process of filing GST appeals has already commenced. He advised taxpayers and professionals to make every effort to file pending appeals within the prescribed timeline, particularly before June 30, 2026, to ensure smooth processing of cases once the Tribunal begins functioning on a regular basis.

He emphasized that GSTAT has been established with the objective of providing a fair, efficient, and time-bound mechanism for resolving disputes arising between taxpayers and the tax department. The Tribunal, he said, remains committed to ensuring effective access to justice for stakeholders under the GST regime.

The Hon’ble Members further assured participants that practical issues faced by professionals would be given due consideration and that efforts would continue to simplify procedures wherever possible.

Detailed Demonstration of the GSTAT Portal

One of the key highlights of the programme was a comprehensive presentation by Deputy Registrar Shri Suresh Chaudhary on the functioning of the new GSTAT portal.

The session covered various aspects of online appeal filing, including portal registration, login procedures, uploading of mandatory documents, use of e-signatures and digital signatures, payment of prescribed fees, and compliance with procedural requirements. Participants were also guided through common issues encountered during filing and the methods available to address them.

The demonstration proved particularly useful as the GSTAT portal is still in its initial phase of implementation and many professionals are filing appeals through the platform for the first time.

Tax Professionals Raise Practical Concerns

During the interactive session, members of the tax fraternity highlighted several practical and technical difficulties being faced while filing appeals on the GSTAT portal.

Participants raised concerns regarding portal functionality, document uploading issues, e-signing procedures, technical glitches, and procedural complexities. Several professionals pointed out that as the portal is newly introduced, many users are still becoming familiar with its operational requirements.

A key demand emerging from the discussions was the request to extend the appeal filing deadline by at least three additional months. Members argued that the extension would provide taxpayers and professionals adequate time to overcome initial technical challenges and ensure error-free filing of appeals.

The GSTAT Members and registry officials patiently heard the concerns and offered guidance on various issues raised by participants.

Important Platform for Dialogue Between GSTAT and Professionals

The Outreach Programme served as an important platform for constructive engagement between GSTAT authorities and tax professionals. Beyond providing procedural guidance, the event enabled Tribunal officials to gain first-hand insight into the practical challenges being encountered at the ground level.

The initiative reflected JTBA’s efforts to ensure that advocates, chartered accountants, and tax practitioners receive authentic and direct information regarding GSTAT procedures, appeal filing requirements, and portal operations.

Participants noted that such interactions would contribute significantly towards ensuring that GST appeals are filed in a more organized, efficient, and timely manner in the future.

GSTAT Members Felicitated

During the programme, the Jaipur Tax Bar Association formally welcomed and felicitated the newly appointed Members of the GSTAT Jaipur Bench. The Association expressed its appreciation for the efforts being undertaken by the Tribunal to establish an effective appellate mechanism under the GST law.

JTBA also conveyed its confidence that the operationalization of GSTAT would substantially reduce the pendency of GST disputes and provide taxpayers with a dedicated forum for adjudication of appellate matters.

Key Contributors to the Event

The Association acknowledged the efforts of several office bearers and executive members who played a significant role in organizing the programme. Special contributions were made by Advocate Sharad Asawa (Vice President, JTBA), Advocate Vishnu Gupta (General Secretary), Advocate Ramesh Chand Gupta (Chairman, Study Circle), Advocate Vikram Gogra (Chairman, GST Memorandum Committee), Advocate Love Maharwal, Advocate Pramit Gupta, and Advocate Rohit Gupta (Executive Members).

Members attending the programme actively participated by sharing their experiences, concerns, and suggestions, contributing to meaningful discussions and making the event highly productive.

Conclusion

The GSTAT Outreach Programme organized by the Jaipur Tax Bar Association emerged as a valuable initiative for enhancing awareness about the newly established GST appellate framework. By providing clarity on the appeal filing process, addressing practical difficulties on the GSTAT portal, and facilitating direct dialogue between professionals and Tribunal authorities, the event successfully achieved its objectives.

As GSTAT moves towards full-fledged operations, such outreach initiatives are expected to play a crucial role in ensuring smoother implementation of the appellate mechanism and strengthening confidence among taxpayers and tax professionals alike.

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