GST Council ignores tax-cut call for sanitary pads, revises for others

Key Highlights

• Rates have been revised for a total of 66 items out of 133 items which were put forth for revision.
• Tax rates for movie tickets priced below Rs 100 have been revised down to 18%.
• GST on insulin revised down to 5% instead of earlier 12%.

The GST Council settled upon revising tax rates for a total of 66 items on Sunday at the 16th Council meet.

Amidst excessive lobbying by the industry bodies the Council sought to take up revision of rates that it had decided last month.

Ministry of Finance in a statement said it would be looking to revise rates of certain goods based on the representation received by the industry bodies. Representations for lowering tax rates for a total of 133 items were received, Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley said.

Also Read: Can a campaign to remove tax on sanitary pads help Indian women adopt better hygiene?

“GST to lead to revenue buoyancy and inflation,” Jaitley said. He further added that there will be relaxed transition to ensure no stocking or destocking.

Although the tax on sanitary pads has not been revised from its decided rate of 12%, the Council has sought revision on others. Traders, manufacturers and restaurants with turnover of up to Rs 75 lakh can avail the composition scheme, against Rs 50 lakh earlier, a report by PTI quoted Jaitley.

Also Read: Taxing sanitary pads is akin to violation of human rights

Sources from Bloomberg said tax on computer printers was lowered from 28% to 18%. Tax rate on food mixes and ketchup has also been lowered to 12% from 18%.

GST on insulin has been reduced to 5% instead of the earlier decided 12%. Tax rate for agarbatti has also been lowered to 5%. School bags to attract tax of 18%, PTI reported.

Movie tickets priced below Rs 100 will attract 18% tax rate under GST instead of the earlier 28%. Tickets priced above Rs 100 will have 28% tax.

The next meeting of GST Council will be held on June 18. The agenda of the meeting will comprise of a discussion on lottery taxes and e-way bill.

GST is anticipated to come into play from July 1.