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GST Council likely to consider allowing investigating agencies, police to use NATGRID to access GST data The GST Council, at its October 7 meeting, is likely to consider a proposal to allow central intelligence and investigative agencies, as well as State and Union Territory police forces using NATGRID, to access specified GST payee information, a senior government official told BusinessLine. The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) links 11 central agencies and the police forces of all States and UTs with data-holding agencies, providing information for intelligence and investigations. NATGRID for counter-terrorism and national security, which includes internal and economic security. Specific information through the GST network will aid in risk-based assessment for foreign investment, tax evasion, money laundering, organised cyber frauds and heinous crime, the official said. Under the proposed mechanism, data would be shared online through application programming interfaces (APIs) on requests from NATGRID user agencies. Five categories of GST data are proposed to be made available: registration details, including proprietors and date of commencement of business; e-way bill details; inward and outward supplies over a specified period; branch mapping through PAN for multi-branch companies; and supplies made through e-commerce platforms. Subject to safeguards However, access is expected to be subject to safeguards. The GST Network (GSTN), the IT backbone of the indirect tax system, has suggested limits on API access to prevent unrestricted access to the entire database, the official said. Unrestricted API access will expose the entire universe of the major registration, e-way bills and GST registration data and that too in unmasked individually identifiable manners, he said. Theoretically, this can lead transmission of most of the GST database with NATGRID. Hence some conditions are expected. The official said the proposal could be accommodated within existing GST provisions governing disclosure of taxpayer information, which allow law-enforcement agencies to obtain information in cases. Wherever any proceedings have been initiated against any person, information regarding that person can be obtained by law enforcement agencies by coordinating with the concerned jurisdictional officers of the Centre or the State. This can also be done at central level by coordinating with the DGGI (Directorate General of GST Intelligence), the official said. The proposed system would provide a more structured mechanism for sharing disaggregated GST data with investigating agencies using API-based technology, the official said. Separately, the Council may also consider allowing the Statistics Ministry access to certain taxpayer data. Any such move would require a review of the statutory framework governing confidentiality and purpose limitation of taxpayer information, the official said. www.thehindubusinessline.com, dt. 03-10-2026

GST Council likely to consider allowing investigating agencies, police to use NATGRID to access GST data

The GST Council, at its October 7 meeting, is likely to consider a proposal to allow central intelligence and investigative agencies, as well as State and Union Territory police forces using NATGRID, to access specified GST payee information, a senior government official told BusinessLine.

The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) links 11 central agencies and the police forces of all States and UTs with data-holding agencies, providing information for intelligence and investigations. NATGRID for counter-terrorism and national security, which includes internal and economic security. Specific information through the GST network will aid in risk-based assessment for foreign investment, tax evasion, money laundering, organised cyber frauds and heinous crime, the official said.

Under the proposed mechanism, data would be shared online through application programming interfaces (APIs) on requests from NATGRID user agencies. Five categories of GST data are proposed to be made available: registration details, including proprietors and date of commencement of business; e-way bill details; inward and outward supplies over a specified period; branch mapping through PAN for multi-branch companies; and supplies made through e-commerce platforms.

Subject to safeguards

However, access is expected to be subject to safeguards. The GST Network (GSTN), the IT backbone of the indirect tax system, has suggested limits on API access to prevent unrestricted access to the entire database, the official said.

Unrestricted API access will expose the entire universe of the major registration, e-way bills and GST registration data and that too in unmasked individually identifiable manners, he said. Theoretically, this can lead transmission of most of the GST database with NATGRID. Hence some conditions are expected.

The official said the proposal could be accommodated within existing GST provisions governing disclosure of taxpayer information, which allow law-enforcement agencies to obtain information in cases.

Wherever any proceedings have been initiated against any person, information regarding that person can be obtained by law enforcement agencies by coordinating with the concerned jurisdictional officers of the Centre or the State. This can also be done at central level by coordinating with the DGGI (Directorate General of GST Intelligence), the official said.

The proposed system would provide a more structured mechanism for sharing disaggregated GST data with investigating agencies using API-based technology, the official said.

Separately, the Council may also consider allowing the Statistics Ministry access to certain taxpayer data. Any such move would require a review of the statutory framework governing confidentiality and purpose limitation of taxpayer information, the official said.

www.thehindubusinessline.com, dt. 03-10-2026