Businesses of roughly 300,000 firms paying goods and services tax (GST) were likely impacted on Monday, as the government had blocked e-way bill generation for non-compliant assesses. “This month, the taxpayer will be alerted with a cautionary message while generating e-way bills, in case GSTR-3B for the past two successive months of the consignor/consignee GST identification number (GSTIN) has not been filed. From next month onwards, such GSTINs will be blocked,” the note had said. “These firms were given enough warning last month that their e-way bill system would be blocked over non-compliance. Businesses not filing returns should not be allowed to move goods,” said a government official. “Due to slowdown and cash crunch, taxpayers are already struggling to survive. This measure will effectively mean halting business and will have negative consequences for taxpayers and the economy,” said Pritam Mahure, leader at Pune-based accountancy firm Pritam Mahure and Associates.