Punjab taxpayers to launch statewide protest over withheld GST and VAT refunds
Ludhiana, Dec 9, 2025
The Punjab Tax Bar Association (PTBA) along with key trade and industry groups have announced a unified, statewide protest set for Dec 12 to demonstrate against the state govt's continued failure to release long-pending refunds for goods and services tax (GST) and value added tax (VAT) that business community had paid.
The planned action follows months of frustration from the business community, which claims the delayed payments have severely hampered working capital and business operations across Punjab. At a state-level meeting on Monday, PTBA president Anil Sarin chaired a session where members resolved unanimously to hold coordinated demonstrations at all district headquarters.
The PTBA, in conjunction with district tax bar associations along with various trade and industry organisations, expressed "deep concern and strong resentment" over the persistent delays. Refunds, in some cases pending since May, are reportedly causing significant financial distress for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), traders, and industrial units already navigating an economic slowdown.
Sarin stated that despite repeated formal requests, reminders, and representations submitted to concerned authorities, "no effective steps were taken" to expedite the refund process. "The prolonged withholding of legitimate GST and VAT refunds has blocked working capital, disrupted business operations, and created undue stress for thousands of taxpayers across the state," Sarin said.
The PTBA and allied bodies announced they would proceed with the Dec 12 protest due to the govt's "continued indifference". The agitation will involve coordinated demonstrations and joint statewide action. The association urged the Punjab govt to take urgent corrective measures, clear all pending refunds without delay, and restore confidence among taxpayers and the wider business community. The PTBA warned that if timely action is not not taken to address the financial backlog, the protest movement will be intensified.
[The Times of India]
