New Delhi, Nov 10: Out of 228 items in the 28% tax bracket, 178 have been put into the lower tax category of 18%, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced at a press briefing after the GST Council meet in Guwahati on Friday.
The development comes in the wake of constant pressure being exerted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government to lower the arbitrary taxes. Besides, the political pundits had warned that high GST may harm BJP in Assembly polls in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.
Mr. Jaitley said that detergent, marble floorings, toiletries are among items shifted to the 18% tax bracket from 28%. The modified rates will come into force on November 15.
The tax rate on two items have been reduced from 28% to 12%, 13 items have been reduced from 18% to 12%, while the rate on six items have been cut from 18% to 5% and that of eight items from 12% to 5%. Six items have gone from 5% to zero, Mr. Jaitley announced.
The restaurant industry will not get input tax credit, Mr. Jaitley added. The consensus in the Council has been that, even though restaurants have been given the benefit of input tax credits, they have not passed this to consumers, Mr. Jaitley said. Tax rate will be 5% uniform for all AC or non-AC restaurants, he said, except those in hotels with tariffs of more than Rs. 7,500, which will continue to be taxed at 18%. Outdoor catering will be taxed at 18% with ITC.
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