DGGI to set up forensic lab in Mumbai
The DGGI is in the process of setting up digital forensic laboratories in Mumbai, Gandhinagar, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai to strengthen technical resources aimed at further enhancing efforts in curbing tax leakage.
The investigation arm of the GST now uses emerging technologies like ‘big data analytics’ and ‘artificial intelligence’ to strengthen technical capabilities, apart from its existing cyber forensics infrastructure.
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has recorded a 99% increase in evasion of duty, from Rs1,01,354 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal (4,872 cases) to Rs2,01,931 crore in 2023-24 (6,074 cases).
Defaulting taxpayers voluntary paid Rs26,598 crore, accounting for 1.4% of the total GST collections in 2022-23.
The tax evasion of Rs2 lakh crore represented approximately 10% of the total GST collections in the financial year.
An internal analysis highlighted top sectors with maximum evasion recorded included banking, financial services and insurance, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce operators, secondment (import of manpower services), online gaming and casinos.
The highest GST evasion was detected in the online gaming and casino industry (Rs83,588 crore), followed by the co-insurance or re-insurance sector (Rs16,305 crore).
The DGGI identified major evasion from secondment (import of manpower services) with Rs1,064 crore of detection.
The DGGI’s annual performance report card highlighted detection of 2,197 cases involving ITC fraud of Rs21,089 crore. Errant taxpayers voluntarily paid Rs2,577 crore with 113 masterminds arrested for fake invoicing to claim tax credits.