Chandigarh, Jan 1 || In a major relief to the trading community and industry, the Punjab government has decided to extend the deadline for the Punjab One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme for Recovery of Outstanding Dues of 2025 until March 31.
State Finance Minister Harpal Cheema gave the formal approval for this extension following representations from various stakeholders, including the GST Practitioners Association (GSTPA) Punjab.
The decision comes in direct response to the participation seen so far, with the department recording 6,348 applications to date. The state government acknowledged that many taxpayers faced a heavy statutory compliance burden during the final months of 2025, which saw overlapping deadlines for various tax filings.
Furthermore, practical challenges such as the pending service of VAT assessment orders had made it difficult for many eligible businesses to accurately determine their liabilities before the original December deadline.
The OTS Scheme -- 2025, which initially launched on October 1, remains one of the state's most taxpayer-friendly initiatives. It is specifically aimed at reducing legacy litigation and unlocking revenue for the state by offering substantial relief.