Punjab’s Taxpayers Rise: Statewide Protest Over Withheld GST and VAT Refunds

The Punjab Tax Bar Association (PTBA), along with major business and industry groups, has announced a statewide protest on December 12, 2025. They are protesting to show their frustration with the state government for not releasing long-overdue GST and VAT refunds that businesses have already paid.

The planned protest comes after months of frustration among businesses, who say that the delayed refunds have badly affected their cash flow and day-to-day business operations in Punjab. In a state-level meeting held on December 8, 2025, the PTBA president led a session where all members agreed to organise coordinated protests at every district headquarters.

The PTBA, along with district tax bar groups and several trade and industry bodies, said they are very worried and upset about the ongoing delay in releasing GST and VAT refunds. Some refunds have been pending since May, and this is causing serious financial problems for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), traders, and factories that are already struggling in a slow economy.

PTBA president Sarin said that despite repeatedly sending letters, reminders, and requests to the authorities, nothing meaningful has been done to speed up the refund process. He explained that holding back these rightful refunds has tied up business funds, disrupted daily operations, and created unnecessary stress for thousands of taxpayers across Punjab.

Because the government has still not taken action, the PTBA and its partner organisations have decided to go ahead with the protest on December 12. The protest will include coordinated demonstrations across the state. The association urged the Punjab government to quickly release all pending refunds and rebuild trust among taxpayers. They also warned that if the issue is not resolved soon, the protest movement will become even stronger.