Prices of Fridge, AC & washing machines may soon become cheaper

Key Highlights: 

• GST Council in 23rd meeting reduced tax slab of 178 items
• 50 items available in higher GST tax slab of 28%
• GST revenue collection stood at Rs 95,131 crore in October

In a bid to further boost consumer demand, the GST council may follow another reduction in higher tax slabs of 28% and this time it would be electronic products like washing machines, air-conditioner (AC) and refrigerators.

"The government is looking to reduce tax rates on consumer durable goods like washing machines and refrigerators from current 28% to 18%," said a newsdaily quoting a government official.

The report said the GST council chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has also hinted that only luxury or sin goods may remain in the highest tax slab of this regime and that there would be more rationalisation in future.

The GST council in it's 23rd meeting on November 10, 2017, had reduced tax slabs from higher 28% to 18% for about 178 items which included restaurants and many daily usage products. With this only 50 luxury and sin/demerit goods like air conditioners, automobiles paints, cement, washing machines and tobacco, among others – are left in the 28% slab.

The changes in the 178 items effective from November 15, 2017 have been taken as positive move by corporates and consumers.

Manoj Bahety, Ankit Dangayach and Nilesh Aiya, analysts at Edelweiss Financial Services, said: "We believe, lower GST rate will disincentivise tax evasion and provide a level playing field to tax-compliant organised players. This will accelerate pace of demand shift to organised players and also enhance tax base over the long term."

Interestingly, 20 judges from 12 high courts reportedly brainstormed with experts and top government officials on identifying grey areas in the new regime that may throw up litigations in coming days.

Recently, top domain experts and officials from the GST Intelligence and the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) briefed the judges about the new tax system.

Meanwhile, the revenue collected under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in October was Rs 95,131 crore and average revenue shortfall of states has come down to 17.6%. In the month of September, GST revenue collection stood at Rs 93,141 crore revenue.