India Inc backs GST at 9, but retailers flag refund delays and audit inconsistencies

Deloitte's GST@9 survey of 1,096 business leaders finds 99% positive or neutral sentiment, yet 87% want interpretational clarity, 61% seek audit uniformity and 36% demand faster refunds — pressure points squeezing working capital for retailers and MSMEs as next-phase reforms loom.

— Source publishedTue, 23 Jun, 2026, 14:16 IST·First seen Tue, 23 Jun, 2026, 14:27 IST·Source BL · Consumer & Economy

What happened

GST Council · Deloitte's GST@9 survey of 1,096 leaders shows 99% positive/neutral sentiment but flags slow refunds, audit inconsistencies and inverted duty

Key facts

  • 99% positive/neutral sentiment
  • 1,096 respondents
  • 87% seek interpretational clarity
  • 61% want audit uniformity
  • 36% want faster refunds
  • taxpayer base grew from 66.5 lakh to 1.65 crore

Why this matters

Use refund-delay exposure as a diligence lens on acquisition targets—MSME retailers with stretched GST receivables may signal valuation upside if integrated into stronger tax infrastructure.