Goods and Services Tax (GST): An indirect form of tax placed on the supply of goods and services, aimed at streamlining the tax structure.
India implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2017. GST is an indirect tax on goods and services with four main slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%). Despite its advantages, there are also challenges. Here are the top 10 pros and cons of GST in India.
Understand the types of supply in GST.
To holistically comprehend the GST advantages and disadvantages in India, we must also check out the challenges in the new system.
GST has had a mixed impact across different sectors of the Indian economy. The manufacturing sector has generally benefited from removing interstate barriers and the availability of input tax credits.
The logistics industry has seen improved efficiency with faster movement of goods and reduced paperwork. However, some service sectors initially faced higher tax rates under GST, and specific labour-intensive industries struggled with compliance requirements.
GST has also supported the "Make in India" initiative by creating a level playing field for domestic manufacturers. The removal of cascading taxes has made Indian goods more competitive both domestically and internationally. The simplified tax structure has also made India more attractive to foreign investors looking for precise and predictable business environments.
GST in India operates under a dual structure, where both the Center and States have the power to levy and collect taxes. The central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST) apply to intrastate transactions, while the Integrated GST (IGST) applies to interstate commerce.
The GST Council, comprising the Union Finance Minister and State Finance Ministers, makes key decisions about GST implementation, including tax rates, exemptions, and procedural matters.
GST is destination-based, meaning tax revenue accrues to the state where goods or services are consumed rather than where they are produced. This has helped create a more equitable distribution of tax revenues among states.
The system also includes threshold exemptions for small businesses and special provisions for specific sectors like agriculture.
Getting your money back in GST is actually pretty simple. If you've paid too much tax, the government will refund you.
You can file GST returns by filling out GST return forms and show proof of your transactions. For sellers shipping overseas, this means showing shipping documents, sales receipts, and bank statements. You submit a form on the GST website, and then tax officials check your request.
While the government tries to send refunds within 60 days, it can take longer if your paperwork isn't complete or they need to verify something.
In 2017, India implemented GST (Goods and Services Tax) to simplify taxes, increase compliance, boost revenue, improve logistics, and promote transparency.
It benefits small businesses, foreign investments, and digitisation. GST positively impacts the economy for both developed and less-developed states. Some challenges include increased business costs, higher tax liability for SMEs, penalties for non-compliance, issues for the unorganised sector, and initial teething issues.
Despite these challenges, GST is making significant strides in implementation and shaping India's tax landscape.
There are several advantages of GST, some of the key ones being: a simplified tax structure, higher tax compliance levels, greater revenue collection, increasingly efficient logistics, increased transparency, easy accessibility, convenience for small businesses, encouragement for foreign investment, digitisation, and it boosts the economy.
Some of the disadvantages of GST include: increased costs, higher tax liability of SMEs, penalties and fines, impact in the unorganised sector as well as other teething issues.
Businesses with a turnover of more than ₹20 L are required to register on the GST portal. They are expected to update their IT infrastructure to ensure that they can comply with GST software requirements. Furthermore, they must carefully go through all the applicable GST guidelines and regulations and train their staff as well to avoid any non-compliance-related penalties.
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