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Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Friday that the Punjab government is making significant progress in processing pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds applications by sanctioning 1,408 applications in July, amounting to a total refund of Rs 241.17 crore.
Punjab Govt Fast-Tracks GST Refunds
Addressing a press conference here, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that as of July 31, 2025, the state has cleared a substantial portion of the backlog, demonstrating a concerted effort to streamline the refund process for businesses. He said that as of June 30, 2025, there were 3,452 pending refund applications, totaling Rs 832.93 crore. In July, the authorities sanctioned refunds totaling Rs 241.17 crore. They refunded Rs 57 crore for the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) component directly from the State Treasury, while the Central Government will reimburse Rs 184.17 crore for the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) components.
Finance Minister Cheema highlighted the direct impact of these refunds on the state’s finances. He said that SGST refunds are deducted from gross tax collections. This deduction determines the state’s net revenue. He also stated that officials are currently processing an additional 663 applications, totaling Rs 52 crore. Once they approve these applications, the state expects to achieve an overall disposal ratio of 60%. This is in terms of the number of applications. They also expect it to reach 35% in terms of the total refund amount.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the AAP led state government’s commitment. They are actively working to ensure a transparent tax administration system.Additionally, they aim for an efficient setup. He stated that the state will prioritize the swift resolution of pending refunds. This action aims to support local businesses. It will also improve the ease of doing business in Punjab.
