GST
What is Goods and Services Tax?
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax. The GST Bill was discussed in length in Parliament in order to end the prevailing taxation system of imposing various indirect taxes and implement a new system in which most of these taxes will be covered under one umbrella.
In order to understand the features and objectives of GST Act, first we need to take a quick look on the previous taxation system.
Previously taxes were charged on every stage viz. excise on manufacture, VAT/CST on sales, entry tax on entry of goods in local area etc.
These taxes get accumulated with the original price as the input credit for the tax already paid is not available to the consumers. This cascading effect of tax i.e. tax on tax results in hiking the prices of goods or services.
These taxes were imposed by the Centre and state differently according to the Lists in The Constitution of India.
Now the new concept of GST is that the GST would be a single tax system which would be levied on ‘supply’ of goods and services and this tax will be jointly imposed by the Centre and the state with the recommendation of a Federal Institution created which is the GST Council.
The 5 Laws of GST
GST comprises of total 5 laws which are; Central GST Law, State GST Law, Union Territory GST Law, Integrated GST Law and The Goods and Services (Compensation To State) Law.
In this, Central GST Law deals with integration of all taxes on goods and services, their collection and arrangements.
Similarly State GST Law deals at the state level (29 states and 2 Union Territory: Delhi and Puducherry which have their own legislative assembly ). Union Territory GST incorporates the provisions of CGST and applies it to the remaining Union territories and Indian territories which are beyond the territorial waters.
Integrated GST deals with import and transaction between 2 states or union territory.
Any dispute arising under IGST will be judged by the Centre or by any state (other than those who are parties in the dispute) empowered by the Centre.
Lastly, The Goods and Services (Compensation To State) Law deals with maintaining a compensation cess for compensating the states which incurred loss for the first five years of implementation of GST.
GST is a progressive tax i.e. it will have different tax rate for different commodities because a similar tax rate on all product for example a toothbrush and a Mercedes car is not possible and not recommended as the relevant consumer group is different for different products.
As mentioned by The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Loksabha on 29th March, 2017, a 0% tax will be levied upon Food grains. Other tax brackets of 5% , 12%, 18% and 28% are made.
These brackets will be used in such a way say for example a product had a tax of 13%, so now it will be kept under 12% bracket i.e. the nearest bracket.
Sin Products i.e. those products which are injurious to health like tobacco, cigarettes, which earlier used to have taxes of 40% 50% of 65% , will have tax of 28% from now onwards and the difference i.e. say 65%-28% will be added to compensation cess.
Similarly extra amount (above 28% Tax ) which are charged on luxury items or items which are harmful to environment like coal will also be added in compensation cess.
If, after 5 years , there is some amount left in the compensation cess, then that amount will be distributed between the Centre and the states For the time being, Real estate has been excluded from GST and this issue will be further discussed within the first year.
The reason behind its exclusion was because some states were concerned about its effect on their revenue collection by way of Stamp Duty.
Similarly, petroleum products and portable alcohol were also excluded. Later on it was agreed that constitutionally, petroleum products will come under ambit of GST but its tax rate will be 0% in GST and will be later on decided by the GST Council with a majority of 75%
This act does not implement to Jammu & Kashmir as Centre does not have power to do so. Jammu & Kashmir has to make their own similar law and then that law will be integrated with the GST Act so that they can also benefit from the same.
Every concept has both positive and negative aspects. Just on the basis of some negative aspects, a system cannot be just torn out which has many big long term advantage.
Thus the GST should be widely accepted and supported because similar to the Demonetisation Policy, this will also come up with flying colours.
As correctly said, “GST is like that one slightly expensive and bitter pill given by the doctor instead of various pills. Now it is your call whether you want to take that one pill or go for many”.
FOR GST REGISTRATION (DOCUMENTS REQUIRED)
1) PAN CARD
2) AADHAR CARD (add with MOBILE NUMBER)
3) PASSPORT PICTURE - 1 PCS.
4) CANCEL CHEQUE/BANK BOOK 1ST PAGE
5) MUNICIPALITY TAX RECEIPT
6) PARCHA
7) CURRENT ELECTRICITY BILL
8) TRADE LICENCE
9) PROFESSIONAL TAX CERTIFICATE