India Inc backs GST at 9, but refund delays and audit inconsistency squeeze retail working capital
Deloitte's GST@9 survey of 1,096 leaders finds 99% positive/neutral sentiment, yet 87% want clarity, 61% seek uniform audits and 36% demand faster refunds. Taxpayer base has grown from 66.5 lakh to 1.65 crore — but inverted duty structures and refund lags remain material working-capital drags for retail and MSME operators.
What happened
GST Council · Deloitte's GST@9 survey of 1,096 leaders shows 99% positive/neutral sentiment toward GST, but flags refund delays, audit inconsistency and
Key facts
- 1,096 responses
- 99% positive/neutral
- 87% seek clarity
- 61% uniform audits
- 36% faster refunds
- 66.5 lakh to 1.65 crore taxpayers
Why this matters
Targets in retail with audit inconsistency exposure or refund-dependent liquidity may carry mispriced working-capital risk, making diligence on GST receivables a sharper lever in deal pricing.