The Supreme Court of India has ruled that once a taxpayer pays the 10% pre-deposit required to file a GST appeal, the government cannot freeze bank accounts or recover additional funds. This landmark decision protects honest taxpayers and ensures fair enforcement under GST law.

The Finance Act 2025 brings relief to businesses by reducing the pre-deposit requirement for penalty only GST appeals from 25% to 10%. Tax appeals remain unchanged at 10%. Businesses can now use Input Tax Credit (ITC) for deposits, improving cash flow and easing compliance. These changes will be effective after CBIC notification.

The GST Portal has introduced a crucial update enabling taxpayers to file appeals (Form APL-01) against rejection orders (SPL-07) issued under the GST Amnesty Scheme. This provides a vital recourse for businesses whose applications for penalty and interest waivers were denied. This detailed guide covers the context of the amnesty scheme, the significance of this new online appeal functionality, critical points to consider before filing (like the 'no withdrawal' policy and pre-deposit requirements), and a comprehensive step-by-step process for filing the appeal on the GST Portal.

The GST Amnesty Scheme 2024 is a one-time opportunity for taxpayers to appeal against GST demand orders issued on or before March 31, 2023. This blog post provides a comprehensive guide to the scheme, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, and preparation requirements. It also highlights the issues and challenges that taxpayers may face while availing the scheme.