NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in address following the 53rd GST council meeting on Saturday said that there will bea biometric-based Aadhaar authentication on an all-India basis. “This will help us to combat fraudulent input tax credit claims made through fake invoices in the cases,” said Sitharaman.
When asked about inclusion of fuel under GST, Sitharaman said that the central government has always intended to include petrol and diesel under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.The decision now lies with the states to come together and agree on the tax rate.
“The intention of the GST, as was brought in by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, was to have petrol and diesel in GST. It is up to the states now… to decide on the rate. The intent of my predecessor was very clear, we want petrol and diesel to come into GST,” said Sitharaman.
When GST was first implemented on July 1, 2017, five commodities – crude oil, natural gas, petrol, diesel, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) – were included in the GST law. However, it was decided that they would be taxed under GST at a later date.
Additionally, the Union minister also said that in order in order to help small taxpayers, the council has recommended that deadline to furnish detail and returns in form GSTR 4 will be extended to 30th June. This will apply for returns for the Financial Year 2024- 25 onwards.
Here are some of the key takeaways from 53rd GST council meeting:
- Waiver of interest on penalties on tax demand notice recommended by Council.
- GST Council recommended Rs 20 lakh limit for filing of appeal by Tax Authorities before Appellate Tribunal, Rs 1cr for high court, Rs 2cr for Supreme Court.
- Services provided by the Railways to common man, sale of platform tickets, facility of retiring rooms and waiting rooms, battery operated car services are being exempted from GST. Further intra-railway supplies are also being exempted.
- Pre-deposit for filing appeals to be brought down.
- GST Council recommended a uniform rate of 12% on all milk cans. They have a standard shape so that will determine what is a milk can and what is not.
- The council has also recommended to prescribe a uniform GST rate of 12 per cent on all carton boxes and cases. 12% GST will also be levied on all types of sprinklers.
- GST Council exempts services by way of hostel accommodation outside educational institutions to tune of Rs 20,000/person per month. However, the condition of course is those provided these services are supplied for a minimum a continuous period of 90 days. Hostels within educational institutions are already exempted from GST.
- Council recommended to prescribe 12% GST on all solar cookers whether it has single or dual energy source.
Meanwhile, the finance minister also announced that Bihar’s deputy CM Samrat Choudhary has been made the Chairman of GoM of Rate Rationalisation. He will submit a status quo report on the work done for the rate Rationalisation in the next meeting likely to happen in mid-August.