Skip to main content

TV, fridge, AC prices may rise twice this year


Many companies considering price hikes over the next few months to pass on the burdens of GST and material cost. Prices of televisions, airconditioners, washing machines and refrigerators may rise twice this year because of higher input costs and a new tax structure.

Videocon, Panasonic, LG and Whirlpool are considering immediate price hikes to pass on the additional tax burden under the goods and services tax (GST). The rise in material prices over the past few months may be passed on during the festive season.

Prices of steel, copper and plastic have been rising since February. Prices of components such as compressors for ACs and refrigerators have risen up by 4 per cent and prices of TV panels have risen by 3 per cent.

Under margin pressure, companies had postponed price hikes till the festive season. Rajeev Bhutani, vice-president, marketing, Samsung India Electronics, had told Business Standard earlier that the increased cost of TV panels would have to be passed on.

“We have not yet decided the price hikes under the GST. We are also calculating the hikes to avoid impact on demand GST comes as second blow with up to 4% rise in effective taxation Companies can’t absorb additional costs, may have to hike prices again to pass on input costs ahead of festive season effect of higher prices of steel, copper and plastic. Hopefully, the increase will be spread over the coming months,” said Kapil Agarwal, vice-president, Whirlpool of India.

“We expect prices of TVs, refrigerators and microwave ovens to go up by 3-4 per cent due to the GST,” said Manish Gupta, chief financial officer, Panasonic India. While manufacturers are focused on passing on the additional tax burden of the GST, many are planning a twofold increase. Videocon is planning price hikes of 2.5 per cent now, but more will be in the offing.

“Increases in prices of components have been set off to some extent due to a marginal drop in dollar prices. But it is very much likely that prices may rise later,” said CM Singh, chief operating officer, Videocon.

Executives with other consumer durables makers said steep hikes in the lean season were out of the question.“We will wait till the festive season before increasing prices. Now we are merely passing on the additional tax,” an executive said.

Business Standard New Delhi, 06th July 2017

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New income tax slab and rates for new tax regime FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25) announced in Budget 2023

  Basic exemption limit has been hiked to Rs.3 lakh from Rs 2.5 currently under the new income tax regime in Budget 2023. Further, the income tax slabs in the new tax regime has been changed. According to the announcement, 5 income tax slabs will be there in FY 2023-24, from 6 income tax slabs currently. A rebate under Section 87A has been enhanced under the new tax regime; from the current income level of Rs.5 lakh to Rs.7 lakh. Thus, individuals opting for the new income tax regime and having an income up to Rs.7 lakh will not pay any taxes   The income tax slabs under the new income tax regime will now be as follows: Rs 0 to Rs 3 lakh - 0% tax rate Rs 3 lakh to 6 lakh - 5% Rs 6 lakh to 9 lakh - 10% Rs 9 lakh to Rs 12 lakh - 15% Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh - 20% Above Rs 15 lakh - 30%   The revised Income tax slabs under new tax regime for FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25)   Income tax slabs under new tax regime Income tax rates under new tax regime O to Rs 3 lakh 0 Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh 5% Rs 6

Jaitley plans to cut MSME tax rate to 25%

Income tax for companies with annual turnover up to ?50 crore has been reduced to 25% from 30% in order to make Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) companies more viable and also to encourage firms to migrate to a company format. This move will benefit 96% or 6.67 lakh of the 6.94 lakh companies filing returns of lower taxation and make MSME sector more competitive as compared with large companies. However, bigger firms have shown their disappointment since the proposal for reducing tax rates was to make Indian firms competitive globally and it is the large firms that are competing globally. The Finance Minister foregone revenue estimate of Rs 7,200 crore per annum for this for this measure. Besides, the Finance Minister refrained from removing or reducing Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT), a popular demand from India Inc., but provided a higher period of 15 years for carry forward of future credit claims, instead of the existing 10-year period. “It is not practical to rem

Don't forget to verify your income tax return in August: Here's the process

  An ITR return needs to be verified within 120 days of filing of tax return. Now that you have filed your income tax return, remember to verify it because your return filing process is not complete unless you do so. The CBDT has reduced the time limit of ITR verification to 30 days (from 120 days) from the date of return submission. The new rule is applicable for the returns filed online on or after 1st August 2022. E-verification is the most convenient and instant method for verifying your ITR. However, if you prefer not to e-verify, you have the option to verify it by sending a physical copy of the ITR-V. Taxpayers who filed returns by July 31, 2023 but forget to verify their tax returns, will get the following email from the tax department, as per ClearTax. If your ITR is not verified within 30 days of e-filing, it will be considered invalid, and may be liable to pay a Late Fee. Aadhaar OTP | EVC through bank account | EVC through Demat account | Sending duly signed ITR-V through s