Salient Features of GST

1. Levy of Tax:

The State GST (SGST) and Central GST (CGST) shall be levied on all the transactions of goods and services, concurrently.

2. Utilization of Levy:

Levies from State GST (SGST) & Central GST (CGST) shall form part of State and the Centre respectively and no cross-utilization shall be allowed.

3. Availability of Tax Credit:

In respect of taxes paid on any supply of goods or services or both used or intended to be used in the course business.

4. Destination based Tax:

The GST is a destination based tax on consumption of Goods and Services. Hence the credit of SGST shall be transferred to the Destination State in the form of Integrated GST (IGST). IGST will be imposed on all Inter-State Transactions.

5. Assessment:

Registered person will be allowed himself to assess the taxes payable under the GST Laws and furnish a return for each Tax Period.

6. Threshold Limit:

There shall be a taxable limit (presently, INR 10 Lakhs in North Eastern States & INR 20 Lakhs in rest of the county)

7. Composition Scheme

The GST Laws will provide a composition scheme for small dealers (presently, turnover of  INR 75 Lakhs).

8. GSTIN or GST Identification Number

Every registrants or dealers ( including Exporters and Importers) shall be given a PAN based TIN number which shall be a common to the both the State GST and Central GST.

9. Compensation to States

The GST Laws provides for payment of compensation to the States for loss of revenue, if any, arising out of implementing of the Goods and Services Tax for a period of 5 years.

10. The GST Council

The Council is a quasi – judicial body of States and the Centre,  represented by the State Finance Ministers  or Taxation Ministers and the Finance Minister of India. The key role of this Council is to make recommendations on various provisions of GST Laws to the State and the Centre.

11. Anti-Profiteering Measures

It is expected the GST Laws will bring down the prices of goods and services once implemented. To ensure the pass of such benefits to end users or the customers, the government has put anti-profiteering measures.

12. Transition

Elaborate ‘Transitions Provisions” for smooth transition of existing tax payers to new Indirect Tax Regime provided.

It is expected that the GST Laws or new indirect tax regime, brings benefits to all the stakeholders viz. industry, government and the citizens. Further, lower the cost of goods and services, boost the economy and make our products and services globally competitive.

Ref:

1. Balachandran V - Indirect Taxes

2. ICAI - Indirect Taxes

3. ICSI - Indirect Taxes

4. ICMAI - Indirect Taxes

5. LPU - Indirect Taxes

6. ClearTax.Com

7. Taxmann.Com

8. TaxGuru.Com

9. Quora.Com