WhatsApp video calls for tax adjudication in wake of Covid-19 pandemic

Dialling a WhatsApp group for a tax hearing may sound bizarre, but the goods and services tax (GST) commissionerate in Mumbai has issued guidelines to conduct virtual hearings of all demand notices using video calls on this social-network platform.

The move is aimed at maintaining social-distancing norms amid the coronavirus pandemic, and WhatsApp has been picked because of its reach and popularity, and also besides it provides a secure network with “end to end encryption”.

“Keeping in view the situation arising due to Covid-19, and the necessity to comply with social-distancing norms, it is considered necessary to conduct personal hearings in virtual mode with respect to all demand notices, including pending showcause notices, appeals, etc,” the guidelines issued by the Office of Commissioner of Central Tax and GST (Thane) said.