Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has announced reorganisation of Central Excise and Service Tax under the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) for the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The  CBEC  is being renamed as the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), after getting legislative approval, an official note said.

The proposed CBIC shall, among other things, will supervise the work of all its field formations and directorates and assist the government in policy making in relation to GST, continuing Central Excise levy and Customs functions. The CBIC will have 21 Zones, 101 GST Tax payer Services Commissionerates comprising 15 sub-Commissionerates, 768 Divisions, 3,969 Ranges, 49 Audit Commissionerates and 50 Appeals Commissionerates.

This will ensure rendering of taxpayer services to all the taxpayers through an indirect tax administration structure, having pan-India presence.

For a robust IT Network, the note said the Directorate General of Systems under CBEC is being strengthened. The Directorate General Tax Payer Services is being expanded for greater outreach for facilitating smooth transition for the taxpayers to the GST environment.

The existing training establishment, to be renamed as National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics will have an all India presence, to enable capacity building to the employees of the indirect tax administration of the Centre as well as of the state governments and to members of Trade and Industry.

The renamed Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence is strengthened and expanded to become an important wing of the government in its fight against tax evasion and black money.