The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has invited recommendations from stakeholders on the operations of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) portal, mentioning technical issues and procedural difficulties encountered by users.
In an official communication from its GST & Indirect Taxes Committee, the ICAI announced that the GSTAT has now been formally established, with its portal becoming operational on September 24, 2025. This Tribunal represents a significant milestone in India’s indirect tax framework, offering a specialized forum for resolving GST disputes and facilitating the appellate process.
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However, since its launch, taxpayers and professionals have reported various difficulties in using the portal. These issues include technical problems, as well as challenges related to filing appeals and navigating hearing procedures. The ICAI has stated that it plans to gather these concerns and provide consolidated feedback to the relevant authorities to enhance the system.
The recent development occurs at a time when the GSTAT ecosystem is still stabilizing after years of delays. However, when GST was rolled out in 2017, the appellate tribunal, which was intended to serve as a crucial second-tier forum under the Central GST Act, remained non-operational for several years because of legal and administrative obstacles. The tribunal was finally launched in September 2025, and hearings commenced in early 2026, completing the GST dispute resolution framework.
The GSTAT portal is made as a digital platform where appeals are submitted, processed, and tracked online, showing the efforts of the government toward a technology-driven tax system. But the transition has not been completely streamlined. Earlier this year, the tribunal considered such initial issues and granted a 6-month leniency period, directing registries to skip minor procedural defects in filings.
ICAI has asked its members and other stakeholders to furnish their recommendations, problems, and feedback via a dedicated online portal. 15 April 2026 is the deadline for submission.
Attach the official PDF here, and download the ICAI official announcement by clicking this link:
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