New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) MUMBAI, Oct 8 (Reuters) – India’s Goods and Services Tax Council, a body of federal and state government officials, made a ‌series of changes to rules on Thursday, limiting punitive powers of tax officials in cases of GST offences.

Businesses across India have complained about stringent tax practices ⁠and sought better ease of doing business.

Here are the details of the outcomes from the GST Council meeting, according to a government release.

The power of arrest is being removed from GST
The threshold for prosecution for GST offences has been raised to 50 ‌million ⁠rupees ($516,635) from 10 million rupees
The general penalty has been reduced to 10,000 rupees from 25,000 rupees
A taxpayer who files late, makes an error ⁠or delays payment will face recovery, interest and a proportionate penalty, but nothing beyond that
No GST ⁠rates were changed
GST rate matters will be taken up once a year, at ⁠a meeting called for the purpose

($1 = 96.7800 Indian rupees)