GST announced major cuts in taxes of various items

The GST council announced major cuts in taxes of various items and announced various measures to support exporters and small businesses.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a press briefing after the meeting of GST Council "It's almost three months since GST roll out. Returns have been filed for first two months as well. So it was a time to deliberate on its effect on various trades and the transition". As a long term solution, an e-wallet will be created for every exporter where a notional amount will be given in advance the refund will be offset later against that amount.”

Keeping in view of the liquidity problem being faced by the exporters, the Council has decided to immediately start refund process for the month of July by 10th October while exporters can get refund of August by 18th October.

For small businesses, it has been decided to increase the limit of composition scheme to Rs 1 crore. So now the small business can now file returns on a quarterly basis. This, Jaitley said, has been done to increase compliance. Under this, resturant businesses will pay GST at 5% rate, traders will pay 1% while manufacturing composition will be 2%.

Meanwhile, the FM said that the GST Council has decided to revise tax of many items including sliced mango (12 to 5%), khakra chapati (12 to 5%), ICDS food packages (5 from 18%), unbranded namkeen (5%), unbranded ayurvedi medicine (12 to 5%), plastice waster (18 to 5%), rubber waste (18 to 5%), paper waste (5 from 12%), manmade yard (12%) etc.

In total, rates have been revised for 27 items. Service providers with revenue below Rs 20 lakh have been exempted from GST as well.