GST

We have initiated two major steps in the area of tax reforms. The first pertains to the DTC and the second to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The DTC Bill was introduced in August, 2011 and has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. I am hopeful that the Committee will submit its report by the Winter Session of the Parliament, and thereafter we would seek to get the legislation passed during the Budget session. By amalgamating several taxes levied by th.. Full Article

Consumers will have to pay more for sugar and textiles as States on Friday decided to impose four-five per cent value added tax (VAT) on sugar and textiles from the beginning of next fiscal. A move that will shore up their state governments revenue, but also stoke inflationary pressures. Full Article

Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST, under its new chief Sushil Modi, will meet on August 19 to discuss various issues related with the roll out of the ambitious indirect tax regime. Full Article

The government will come out with a draft 'negative list' for service tax in two weeks, meaning services which are not mentioned in it would be taxed under the proposed GST regime. The draft paper (on negative list of services) is nearly ready and you should see this paper in two weeks, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, V K Garg, told PTI. Full Article

The introduction of big-ticket tax reforms through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime seems unlikely from next April with the BJP-ruled states today stating that they would not like to be reduced to 'municipality or corporations. The kind of draft that they [central government] have presented...I do not think it could be passed. Which state will agree to become a municipality or corporation? To hand over all the powers to the Centre and then beg before it for money.. Full Article

The Federation of Indian Exports Organisations (FIEO) today suggested that the 14-year-old Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB) scheme be extended till the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is introduced in the country. The DEPB scheme should continue till GST is introduced as it will not possible to fix the drawback rates for all the products for which DEPB rates exist in the short span of three months, FIEO President Ramu S Deora said in press statement. Full Article

With the Left losing power in West Bengal, the Empowered Group of State Finance Ministers, which is currently engaged in building a consensus on the GST, will have to find a replacement for Asim Dasgupta who has been heading the body since its inception. As West Bengal Finance Minister, Mr. Dasgupta was involved with the Empowered Group for more than a decade. Earlier, he was the convenor of the VAT panel and played a key role in implementing the new tax regime. Full Article

A Ficci Committee recently said it will suggest ideas to the aviation industry on how the proposed Goods & Services Tax (GST) would affect them, along with other recommendations to give the sector a boost. The Ficci Civil Aviation Committee has also set for itself a wide-ranging agenda to give the civil aviation industry a fillip and make air travel safer, secure, cheaper and hassle-free. Full Article