A five-day GST training program for Nagaland State Tax Officers got underway at the Office of the Commissioner of State Taxes, Dimapur on Monday, with Commissioner Abhinav Shivam, IAS, calling it “a vital step in our continuing mission to strengthen the tax administration system in Nagaland.”
The training is being conducted by the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN), Shillong, led by Additional Commissioner Issac R Kharkongor, in collaboration with the State Tax Department.
Addressing officers at the inaugural event, Shivam described GST as a constantly evolving system.
“GST is dynamic in nature, where it demands that we stay updated, trained, and alert to the nuances of reforms and policy changes that occur with remarkable frequency,” he said.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by Nagaland in tax collection, stating that “our state is not the front runner in GST collection in average or per capita terms, and revenue leakages through evasion have severely affected our share.”
Citing Nagaland’s complex geography and political history, Shivam added that “we have struggled to establish revenue-generating industries and enterprises. But for now, Nagaland relies heavily on tax revenues… optimising tax revenue is not merely an administrative objective, it is a developmental imperative.”
Despite constraints, the department has achieved significant progress in recent months, including:
· Capacity building through training officers in Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, and New Delhi
· Conducting high-impact GST-TDS training for DDOs in Kohima
· Developing in-house tools for monitoring GST compliance
· Collaborating with CGST in joint enforcement operations
· Introducing monthly revenue health reporting formats
Shivam announced plans to deploy RFID-based tracking systems, launch an FAQ guide in Nagamese to help local entrepreneurs with compliance, and partner with CGST to train local youth as “Tax Mitras” or grassroots tax advisors. Zonal offices will also be developed into public information hubs.
He also shared that the department recovered over Rs 10 crore in revenue arrears between February and May 2025.
Beyond enforcement, Shivam emphasized the importance of public awareness:
“Taxation unfortunately remains one of the most misunderstood concepts, often seen in a negative light… The sprawling network of roads, developmental schemes, infrastructure — all are financed from the proceeds of tax.”
“For Nagaland to thrive, tax compliance must become a people’s movement,” he declared.