What is GST?
Goods and Services Tax - GST - is a comprehensive tax levied on manufacture, sale and
consumption of goods and services at a national level. Through a tax credit mechanism, this tax is collected on value-added goods and services at each stage of sale or purchase in the supply chain. The system allows the set-off of GST paid on the procurement of goods and services against the GST which is payable on the supply of goods or services. However, the end consumer bears this tax as he is the last person in the supply chain. Experts say that GST is likely to improve tax collections and boost India’s economic development by breaking tax barriers between States and integrating India through a uniform tax rate.
What are the benefits of GST?
Under GST, the taxation burden will be divided equitably between manufacturing and services, through a lower tax rate by increasing the tax base and minimizing exemptions. It is expected to help build a transparent and corruption-free tax administration. GST will be levied only at the destination point, and not at various points (from manufacturing to retail outlets).Currently, a manufacturer needs to pay tax when a finished product moves out from a factory, and it is again taxed at the retail outlet when sold.
How will it benefit the Centre and the States ?
It is estimated that India will gain $15 billion a year by implementing the Goods and Services
Tax as it would promote exports, raise employment and boost growth. It will divide the tax
burden equitably between manufacturing and services.
What are the benefits of GST for individuals and companies?
In the GST system, both Central and State taxes will be collected at the point of sale. Both
components (the Central and State GST) will be charged on the manufacturing cost. This will benefit individuals as prices are likely to come down. Lower prices will lead to more consumption, thereby helping companies.
What type of GST is proposed for India?
India is planning to implement a dual GST system. Under dual GST, a Central Goods and
Services Tax (CGST) and a State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) will be levied on the taxable value of a transaction. All goods and services, barring a few exceptions, will be brought into the GST base. There will be no distinction between goods and services.
What are the flaws in present GST bill?
The government should remove flaws in the Constitutional Amendment Bill and build a consensus with the states on a flawless GST. The Bill, to give the Centre and states concurrent powers to tax goods and services, is a right step. What is not correct is a 1% extra levy proposed to be charged when goods move from one state to another. If Rajasthan imports goods from Maharashtra, it will pay 1% tax to Maharashtra, but the levy will not be charged if the goods are imported from outside India. Also, the 1% tax would apply multiple times, every time goods move from one state to another, and could cumulate to as much as 5% in a typical supply chain. This will add to the cascade of taxes that products bear and raise the cost of raw materials, capital and finished goods.
As there will be no set-offs on the extra levy —to be in force for two years or such other period as the GST Council may recommend. However, producing states want the levy on the grounds that they will lose out when the central sales tax is scrapped. There is no logic as the Centre has already guaranteed compensation to states while transiting to GST. The extra levy will scuttle the Make in India plan. It goes against the grain of GST and renders our exports uncompetitive. The extra levy should be scrapped.
Keeping real estate out of GST is a bad idea as credit will not be available for taxes paid on inputs used in construction such as cement and steel. Construction capital expenditure is 40% of total capital investment in a year, and that’s not small change. Bringing real estate under GST will raise investment and push growth.
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MAHENDRA GURU