India will levy a 5% tax on all equipment required for generating solar power compared with nil duty now, a government official clarified, putting an end to confusion about the new taxation policy for the industry after its landmark tax reform.
“All solar equipments and its parts would attract 5% GST only,” revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said in a tweet on Sunday, contrary to the initially planned two tax slabs of 5% and 18%. India, the world’s third biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has set a target to produce 100 gigawatts of solar power in five years to fuel its economic expansion while reducing its carbon footprint.
A flat 5% tax on all solar power equipment will put the sector on par with domestic coal from 1 July and make solar energy generation more expensive.
The 5% tax, however, is in contrast to a previous notification that had fixed an 18% tax on photovoltaic cells and panels, which account for a bulk of solar power generation costs.
Domestic coal sales now attract a 11.69% duty. State-run Coal India Ltd, saddled with millions of tonnes of unsold coal, is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the decision.
Mint New Delhi, 30th May 2017
“All solar equipments and its parts would attract 5% GST only,” revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said in a tweet on Sunday, contrary to the initially planned two tax slabs of 5% and 18%. India, the world’s third biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has set a target to produce 100 gigawatts of solar power in five years to fuel its economic expansion while reducing its carbon footprint.
A flat 5% tax on all solar power equipment will put the sector on par with domestic coal from 1 July and make solar energy generation more expensive.
The 5% tax, however, is in contrast to a previous notification that had fixed an 18% tax on photovoltaic cells and panels, which account for a bulk of solar power generation costs.
Domestic coal sales now attract a 11.69% duty. State-run Coal India Ltd, saddled with millions of tonnes of unsold coal, is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the decision.
Mint New Delhi, 30th May 2017
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