[2Gkashmiri]

As someone who does Indian direct and indirect taxes as my day job, I can comfortably say it is "fucked up".

The problem starts small. They introduced a new indirect tax act in 2017 (gst) and it was fine for a couple of weeks but suddenly every business user was supposed to get registered at a centralized portal. Cool but there was penalty for delay and penalty for filing returns late. Cool. So they got an amendment. Fine. Next day a notification. Next day a circular.

In the last 5-6 years, they have changed the act in like 1200-1300 times by way of various amendments, rules, notifications, orders, not to talk about court judgments.

You are NEVER sure if you know something to be a fact when in fact 2 years ago a particular notification amended the act to be read in a certain way. Then another amended it further. Then again.

All the while the govt accepts the fact that all taxpayers are not paying govt their dues so they treat them as such, Financial criminals so there is jail provisions even.

Direct tax is no different. You annual " income tax return" is to be prepared in 1 our of 7 forms. Cool. Then you have to see various schedules and time limits and audits and compliances and other stuff. A lot of stuff DOES MAKE SENSE but you have to have practiced for 5-12 years before saying that. Then it kinda makes sense on an overall level. For everyone else, go fuck yourself.