What is GST?
The GST is basically an indirect tax that brings most of the taxes imposed on most goods and services, on manufacture, sale and consumption of goods and services, under a single domain at the national level. In the present system, taxes are levied separately on goods and services. The GST is a consolidated tax based on a uniform rate of tax fixed for both goods and services and it is payable at the final point of consumption. At each stage of sale or purchase in the supply chain, this tax is collected on value-added goods and services, through a tax credit mechanism.
The proposed model of GST and the rate
A dual GST system is planned to be implemented in India as proposed by the Empowered Committee under which the GST will be divided into two parts:
- State Goods and Services Tax (SGST)
- Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST)
Both SGST and CGST will be levied on the taxable value of a transaction. All goods and services, leaving aside a few, will be brought into the GST and there will be no difference between goods and services. The GST system will combine Central excise duty, additional excise duty, services tax, State VAT entertainment tax etc. under one banner.
Advantages of GST Bill
Introduction of a GST is very much essential in the emerging environment of the Indian economy.
- There is no doubt that in production and distribution of goods, services are increasingly used or consumed and vice versa. Separate taxes for goods and services, which is the present taxation system, requires division of transaction values into value of goods and services for taxation, leading to greater complications, administration, including compliance's costs. In the GST system, when all the taxes are integrated, it would make possible the taxation burden to be split equitably between manufacturing and services.
- GST will be levied only at the final destination of consumption based on VAT principle and not at various points (from manufacturing to retail outlets). This will help in removing economic distortions and bring about development of a common national market.
- It will also help to build a transparent and corruption-free tax administration. Presently, a tax is levied on when a finished product moves out from a factory, which is paid by the manufacturer, and it is again levied at the retail outlet when sold.
For individuals and companies
In the GST system, taxes for both Center and State will be collected at the point of sale. Both will be charged on the manufacturing cost. Individuals will be benefited by this as prices are likely to come down and lower prices mean more consumption, and more consumption means more production, thereby helping in the growth of the companies.