Silicon Valley tax executives meet CBIC as India seeks to simplify indirect tax and customs rules and attract more global technology investment
India is looking to make its indirect tax and customs framework simpler for global technology companies as tax executives from leading Silicon Valley firms held discussions with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Tuesday.
CBIC chairman Vivek Chaturvedi met a delegation led by Shefali Goradia, chairperson of Deloitte South Asia and the Silicon Valley Tax Directors Group (SVTDG), which represents tax directors and finance executives from more than 100 US technology companies, primarily based in the Silicon Valley region.
The delegation included representatives from companies such as Amazon, Accenture, Google, Cisco and Lam Research.
The discussions focused on further simplifying GST and customs policies, with the aim of improving the ease of doing business and facilitating greater investment by Silicon Valley companies in India, the CBIC said in a post on X.
The meeting comes as India seeks to attract more investment from global technology and manufacturing companies and improve the predictability of its regulatory framework.
For multinational technology companies, GST compliance and customs procedures can affect the cost and time involved in importing equipment, managing supply chains and expanding operations. Simplifying these processes can therefore be important as companies assess new investments and supply-chain locations.
The CBIC said the interaction reflected the growing interest among Silicon Valley companies in India’s investment and business environment.
More from BusinessThe government has in recent years sought to reduce compliance burdens and streamline indirect tax procedures as part of its broader ease-of-doing-business push. GST has also undergone several rounds of changes since its introduction in 2017, with the government seeking to simplify compliance and address concerns raised by businesses.
The discussions with the SVTDG provide a channel for US technology companies to raise issues directly with India’s indirect tax authorities as they expand their operations and investment plans in the country.
India has emerged as an important market and operating base for global technology companies, while its large consumer market, digital infrastructure and growing electronics and manufacturing ecosystem have also made it a target for fresh investment.
For the companies, clearer and simpler tax and customs procedures could help reduce compliance costs and improve certainty around business operations.
The CBIC did not disclose specific policy changes agreed at the meeting. The discussions indicate that tax simplification remains part of India’s broader effort to make the country more attractive to global technology investors.
