Next Step in GST Recast: Lower End of Tax Slabs

Next Step in GST Recast: Lower End of Tax Slabs

The next rejig of goods and services tax will likely focus on the lower end of the rate slabs, as the country seeks to further streamline the structure by converging multiple rates into two or three. It will happen after the regime settles down and there is more clarity on revenue following the recast last week.

Simplification of laws, rules and procedures in line with industry’s feedback is also likely to top the GST Council’s agenda in the next few meetings. The rates on some items such as cement and paint, still left at the highest rate of 28%, could be brought down if tax revenue remains robust.

A top official with a state government said the focus would now be to recast the lower 12% and 5% rate slabs.Other issues to be considered by the council are inclusion of real estate and petroleum products under GST.The government has set up a group with industry representation to review the tax regime, which has since its July 1 launch been criticised for having too many rates and being burdensome to comply with.

The latest recast, decided at a GST Council meeting in Guwahati last week, has seen the 18% rate emerging as the dominant slab with nearly half the goods, apart from most of the services, now taxed at that rate. The Guwahati meeting decided to move 178 items to the 18% rate from 28% and cut the GST on eating at restaurants to 5% from Monday, in a decision that would reduce tax revenue by 20,000 crore

Eye on Revenue

It may have been possible to move some more goods to the 18% slab from 28%, but that would have resulted a bigger revenue loss. Officials said cement and paint alone would have cost the government more than Rs 20,000 crore had the two been moved a slab lower.“We need revenue as well,” said the state government official.

But eventually, the 28% slab would be left with very few items, mostly in the luxury and sin-goods category.Other increasingly common-use items that are still in the 28% slab include air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and digital cameras. In all, more than 50 items still remain on the 28% list.

A committee headed by chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian had suggested a revenue-neutral rate of 15-15.5%, with a strong preference for the lower end of that range. It had recommended a standard rate — for services and most goods — of 17-18%, high or non-GST excise rate of 40% for items such as luxury goods and tobacco, and a low rate of 12% for essential goods.

With the latest recast, the rates have moved closer to this structure.A further recast of the 5% rate, moving some up to 12% and scrapping the tax on others will further simplify the GST structure.

Lesser rates will bring stability to the overall tax regime, said experts.“GST needs to be a simple, transparent and stable tax system. Multiple rate slabs result in classification disputes as businesses attempt to classify their products in lower slabs,” said Pratik Jain, indirect taxes leader, PwC.

In most countries, including Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, there is one standard rate, or at best a lower rate in addition to a standard rate.“Single rate will remove complexity from the structure as also alleviate revenue concerns,” said Bipin Sapra, partner, EY.

CONGRESS RAISES PRESSURE

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in a tweet demanded that petroleum products and LPG cylinders be brought under GST.

He said the government should have a single rate that should not be more than 18%, and remove GST on products that the common man uses.

A day ahead of the council meeting in Guwahati, Congress-ruled states had demanded complete revamp of the GST structure.

The Economic Times, New Delhi, 13th November 2017