India confirms delay in consolidation of 12% and 5% Goods and Services Tax rates
India’s Goods and Services Tax Council is reviewing simplifying the number of GST rates from five to four. This would likely mean the withdrawal of the current secondary main rate of 12%.
But the government – Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra – has now confirmed this will not happen until after the 2023 – 2024 financial year.
Five GST rates into four in 2024?
The current rates are:
- 28% – vehicles; fizzy drinks; air conditioners; nightclub entrance; luxury hotels and restaurants, and gambling
- 18% main rate applying to over 450 defined goods and services, including luxury restaurants and hotels
- 12% second main rate applying to over 250 defined goods and services including other hotels and restaurants; non-dwelling construction
- 5% – passenger air travel; construction of dwellings; restaurants
- 0%
There are also a precious stones (0.25%) and metals (3%) rates. Sign-up for VAT Calc’s FREE global VAT and GST news e-mail updates.
This is likely to be cut to four rates, as follows:
- 28% luxuries
- 18% main rate
- 5% reduced rate
- 0%
The disruption caused by COVID-19 prevented an earlier consolidation. India implemented GST in 2017, and it just hit its fourth anniversary. There are also discussions to bring fuel into the GST net.
