The Revenue Department has submitted its comments on the goods and services tax discussion paper, which was released by the State Finance Minister’s Committee on November 10. It wants excise duty, octroi, purchase tax, and local taxes to be brought under the GST ambit, along with alcoholic beverages and petroleum products. The department has agreed to levy GST plus excise duty on tobacco products.
It has also sought a single rate of State GST for goods and services. “The exact rate of state and Centre GST must be known before implementation. A two rate structure would pose problems,” it stated.
The value-added tax (VAT) exempt list of 99 items would continue, it added. On imports, the department says only the Centre must levy and handle GST. The GST discussion paper had envisaged states’ role in GST on imports. “States should not to be empowered to levy GST on imports.”
