After the GST Council authorised modifications to the tax rates on several commodities and services with a view of rationalising the levy, a number of items are now expected to be subject to the Goods and Service Tax (GST).
The GST Council, the highest authority on the imposition of the goods and services tax, which is presided over by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman and is made up of representatives from all states and UTs, made the decision.
Here is a list of items and services that will attract GST
- Pre-packed and labelled meat (except frozen), fish, curd, lassi, paneer, honey, dried leguminous vegetables, dried makhana, wheat and other cereals, wheat or meslin flour, jaggery, puffed rice (muri), all goods and organic manure and coir pith compost will not be exempted from GST and will now attract a 5 per cent tax.
- However, goods that are unpacked, unlabelled and unbranded will continue to remain exempt from GST.
- The GST Council also recommended a correction to the inverted duty structure for a host of items, including edible oil, coal, LED lamps, printing/drawing ink, finished leather and solar water heater.
- An 18 per cent GST will be levied on fees charged by banks for the issue of cheques (loose or in book form).
- Maps and charts, including atlases, will attract a 12 per cent levy.
- A 12 per cent tax on hotel rooms below Rs 1,000 per day will be levied, as against a tax exemption currently.
- With regard to e-way bill on intra-state movement of gold, gold jewellery and precious stones to check evasion, the Council recommended that states can decide on the threshold above which the electronic bill is to be made mandatory.
