New Delhi: The implementation of the value-added tax (VAT) system from today has been deferred due to differences within Indian states even as the nationwide bandh by the trading community entered the second day.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, chaired by West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, will be held here on 8 April 2003 to review the situation and decide on the new date.

Dasgupta had told the West Bengal assembly yesterday that VAT could not be introduced from 1 April as the government has not received the final assent from the Indian president in this regard.