New Delhi:During the 53rd meeting of the GST Council on Saturday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made several key announcements, including exempting platform tickets provided by Indian Railways from GST. Sitharaman emphasized that the intention behind these changes is to simplify the lives of GST taxpayers and reduce compliance burdens.Following the GST Council meeting, Sitharaman reassured taxpayers, stating, “Our intent is to make the GST assessee’s life easier. We are working towards less and less compliance.”
Monetary Thresholds for Appeals Recommended
To reduce government litigation, Sitharaman announced that the GST Council has recommended monetary thresholds for filing appeals by the tax department before various appellate authorities. The suggested limits are Rs 20 lakh for GST appellate tribunals, Rs 1 crore for high courts, and Rs 2 crore for the Supreme Court. Sitharaman noted that if the monetary amount falls below these thresholds, the tax authority would generally refrain from filing an appeal.
Exemption for Hostel Services
Additionally, the Council granted an exemption of up to Rs 20,000 per person per month for hostel services outside educational institutions. This exemption applies to students or working individuals who stay for a minimum of 90 days.#
Inclusion of Petrol and Diesel Under GST
When asked about bringing petrol and diesel under GST, Sitharaman stated that the GST’s intention, as envisioned by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, was to include these fuels under GST. She clarified that it is now up to the states to come together and decide on this inclusion. The central government’s intent is clear: to bring petrol and diesel under the GST framework.
Reduction of GST on Carton Boxes
In another significant decision, the GST Council recommended reducing GST on all types of carton boxes from 18% to 12%. This move comes in response to persistent demands from Himachal Pradesh to lower GST on apple carton boxes, which will help reduce costs for both horticulturists and the industry. Himachal Pradesh’s Industry Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan expressed gratitude for the unanimous decision, noting that it would also help lower working capital costs for the
