Thiruvananthapuram, June 25 (UNI) As part of the amnesty scheme announced for bar hotels in the 2025-26 Kerala Budget, the State Goods and Services Tax (GST) Department has launched stringent arrear recovery actions against defaulters.

During the arrear recovery drives conducted across the state on June 20, 21, and 23, the department collected Rs 3.5 crore from over 65 bar hotels.

Through this recovery drive, around 11 hotels have already joined the amnesty scheme. Additionally, more than 25 hotel owners have expressed interest in availing themselves of the scheme.

Bar hotel owners can clear all turnover tax arrears, cess, and 50% of the interest accrued from the financial year 2005-06 to 2020-21. This payment should be made through the e-Treasury portal www.etreasury.kerala.gov.in. Upon completing the payment, they must submit the e-challan along with an offline application for the amnesty to the respective assessing authority before June 30, 2025. Once this is done, the remaining interest and penalties will be waived.

The State GST Commissioner has urged taxpayers to make maximum use of this amnesty scheme. He also warned that strict recovery measures will continue against those who fail to utilise this opportunity and clear their tax arrears.

UNI DS ARN