GST is the result of an indirect tax reform that aims to make a single national market. For this purpose, the government had combined different taxes under GST. It has combined different indirect taxes like service tax, entry tax, luxury tax, entertainment tax, CST, VAT, excise duty, etc. The government has set up a common portal www.gst.gov.in in this regard. Read this simple brief about GST below.
What is GST?
Before we continue with more of the Indian GST, let us understand the basic idea of GST in simple language.
- GST is a value-added tax levied on supply.
- GST offers an extensive and continuous chain of tax set-offs.
- The supplier at each stage can use the input tax credit of GST paid on the purchase of goods and services. The business can set off this Input Tax Credit (ITC) against the GST payable on the supply of goods and services to be made.
- Input tax credit refers to the set-off of tax paid on purchases that you can use against the tax collected on sales. Only the balance amount of tax needs to be paid.
- There is no cascading effect on tax effects under the GST framework. Cascading effect refers to the system where tax is charged on every stage by including the tax previously paid on purchases. This leads to tax on tax.
Define GST
Let us understand the definition of Goods and the definition of Services.
Term |
Definition of Goods |
Definition of Services |
Goods |
every kind of movable property. |
|
Services |
|
Means all services |
Other than |
Money |
Goods |
Securities |
Money |
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Securities |
|
But includes |
actionable claims |
activities relating to the use of money or |
growing crops |
its conversion by cash or |
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grass and |
by any other mode, |
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things attached to or forming part of the land |
from one form, |
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which are agreed to be severed before supply or under a contract of supply. |
currency or denomination, |
|
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to another form, |
|
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currency or denomination |
|
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for which a separate consideration is chargeable |
History of GST in India
In 2000, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee introduced the idea of GST and set up a committee to plan a Goods and Services Tax (GST) model for the country. The Goods and Service Tax (GST) came into effect from 1st July 2017.
Take a quick look at the journey of GST in India explained in the table below:
Year’s |
Journey |
2000 |
Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee introduces the concept of GST. |
2006 |
Union Finance Minister proposes GST to be introduced from 1st April 2010. |
2014 |
Constitution 122nd Amendment Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha. |
2016 (August) |
Constitution 101st Amendment Act enacted. |
2016 (September) |
GST council meeting. |
2017 (March) |
Council recommends IGST, CGST, SGST, UTGST & Compensation Cess Bill. |
2017 (April) |
The above recommendation passed. |
2017 (May) |
Council recommends all the rules. |
2017 (June) |
Except for Jammu and Kashmir, all states enacted the SGST Act. |
2017 (1st July) |
GST introduced |
2017 (8th July) |
Jammu and Kashmir enacted the SGST Act. |
|
Need for GST in India
Under the previous indirect tax system, India’s value-added tax’s tax collection guidelines were not uniformly followed. The Centre’s CENVAT and the state-level VAT varied. Its application was confusing and stayed divided by the following reasons:
- The tax on tax effect due to:
- Including CENVAT in the value for calculating VAT
- Duty of Non-VAT CST
- Some of the local levies in State VAT, such as entertainment tax, luxury tax, tax on betting, lottery, gambling, etc., were not brought under VAT.
- Double taxation of certain goods and services
- Service tax and VAT were not integrated.
- No CENVAT after the manufacturing stage.
All these issues lead to under-reporting of sales by businesses, which in turn decreased the revenue to the government from tax collection. The government introduced GST to solve these issues, ensure proper tax payments and reporting by businesses, and ensure proper tax collection.
Also Read: Advantages of GST – GST Benefits Explained With Example
Old Tax Regime vs GST Regime
Old Tax Regime |
GST Regime |
There were multiple taxes. |
GST is a single tax system |
Multiple taxes lead to cascading effect. |
No cascading effect as GST is charged on the value-added. |
Separate taxes for goods and services. |
Single tax for goods and services. |
Cross set-off of taxes paid on purchases of goods and services not possible. |
Cross set-off of taxes possible. |
The Framework of GST in India
Here’s everything about GST explained in twelve sub-parts:
- Dual GST Model
- IGST/CGST/SGST/UTGST
- Legislative Framework
- Classification of goods and services
- Composition Scheme
- Registration
- Exemptions
- Seamless flow of credit
- GST Common Portal
- GSPs/ASPs
- Compensation Cess
- GST levied and taxes brought under GST
1. Dual GST Model
Unlike most countries, we follow the dual GST model. Under this system, both the States and the Centre can tax goods and services.
2. IGST/CGST/SGST/UTGST
IGST or CGST or SGST or UTGST, in short, is all about GST only. GST is a destination-based consumption tax. It applies to all transactions involving the supply of goods or services for consideration.
GST in India explained with the following terms:
1)IGST: IGST is the total of CGST and SGST or UTGST and is levied and collected by the Centre.
2)CGST: Central Goods and Services Tax levied and collected by the Central Government.
3)SGST: State Goods and Services Tax levied and collected by State Governments.
4)UTGST: Union Territory Goods and Services Tax levied and collected by Union Territories.
3. Legislative Framework
There is a single legislation CGST Act, 2017 – for imposing CGST. Similarly, Union Territories without Legislatures are governed by UTGST Act, 2017 for charging UTGST. States and Union territories with their legislatures have their own GST legislation for imposing SGST.
Read this GST simple explanation with the help of an example below:
- In Delhi, CGST and SGST are levied on the supply of goods or services or both.
- In Ladakh, CGST and UTGST are levied on the supply of goods or services or both.
4. Classification of goods and services
GST explanation can be taken further in terms of HSN or SAC, two types of codes. These codes are the same everywhere in India. They are used to categorise goods and services. The Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) classifies the various goods. The Scheme of Classification of Services (SAC) classifies the various services under GST.
5. Composition Scheme
For suppliers of food articles, primary manufacturers, small traders, small businesses, etc., doing business only inside the state, a simple payment method is recommended, known as Composition Scheme. The government has extended the scheme for small service providers also.
6. Registration
Every supplier of goods and services must obtain registration in the State/UT, where their taxable supply of the aggregate turnover surpasses the threshold limit during a Financial Year. GST explanation related to the threshold limit for registration is distinct for different category of State/UT, as explained in the table below:
Also Read: GST Certificate Download Download from gst.gov.in
States with a threshold limit of Rs. 40 lakhs* for goods and Rs. 20 lakhs for services |
States with a threshold limit of Rs. 20 lakhs for both goods and services |
States with a threshold limit of Rs. 10 lakhs for both goods and services |
Himachal Pradesh |
Telangana |
Tripura |
Jammu & Kashmir |
Puducherry |
Nagaland |
Assam |
Uttarakhand |
Mizoram |
All other States |
Sikkim |
Manipur |
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Meghalaya |
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Arunachal Pradesh |
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*Persons engaged exclusively in the intra-State supply of goods. |
7. Exemptions
GST gives relief to small-scale businesses. It also contains provisions for granting exemption from tax payment on essential goods and services.
8. Seamless flow of credit
Since GST is a destination-based consumption tax, the revenue of SGST goes to the consuming States. In other words, the revenue of SGST goes to the state where it is used. The Input Tax Credit (ITC) can be set off against output liability under GST, in the order explained in the table below:
ITC |
Output IGST Liability |
Output CGST Liability |
Output SGST/UTGST Liability |
IGST |
|
(2) Set off In any order & in any proportion |
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(3) ITC of IGST must be exhausted entirely before proceeding |
|||
CGST |
(5) set off against output IGST |
(4) set off against output CGST |
Not Permitted |
SGST/UTGST |
(6) Only after the ITC of CGST has been used fully |
Not Permitted |
(7) The remaining credit can be set off |
9. GST Common Portal
Before GST, the Central and State indirect tax systems worked under different formats, procedures, regulations, and laws. Their IT systems and infrastructure were also independent of one another.
The common GST Electronic Portal www.gst.gov.in is a website overseen by Goods and Services Network (GSTN). A common GST system links various Banks, Taxpayers, Central Tax authorities, State/ UT Commercial Tax Departments, and other stakeholders. Similarly, the common GST Electronic Portal for furnishing an electronic waybill is www.ewaybillgst.gov.in.
10. GSPs/ASPs
GSTN has chosen information technology, financial technology companies, and information technology-enabled Services companies, designated as GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs). A business can take the help of Application Service Providers (ASPs) to pay and file their GST returns.
11. Compensation Cess
A GST Compensation Cess at a predefined rate is included under the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Cess Act, 2017. It applies to demerit goods or specified luxury items, like motor cars, aerated waters (soda), tobacco, pan masala, etc. It is calculated on the value of the taxable supply.
Compensation cess is leviable on inter-State supplies and intra-State supplies. It helps to pay compensation to the States for the loss of revenue arising from the GST implementation. Compensation Cess is to be provided to a State for five years from the date the State brings its SGST Act into force.
12. GST levied & taxes brought into GST.
GST applies on all goods and services, except for
- Natural Gas
- Aviation Turbine Fuel
- Petrol
- Diesel
- Petroleum Crude
- Alcoholic Liquor for Human Consumption
Within GST or outside GST? |
|
Goods and Services |
Applicability |
Tobacco |
Comes under GST, with power to levy excise duties. |
Entertainment tax levied by local bodies |
The power to levy tax remains with the local bodies. |
Five petroleum products petroleum crude, diesel, petrol, aviation turbine fuel and natural gas |
GST Council to decide the date from which GST will be applicable |
Alcohol for human consumption |
The power to tax remains with the State. |
Following taxes were brought into GST:
Brought into GST |
|
Central Taxes |
State Taxes |
Central surcharges and cess on the supply of goods & services |
Taxes on advertisements |
Central Sales Tax |
Luxury Tax |
CVD & Special CVD |
VAT/ Sales tax |
Excise Duty under Medicinal & Toilet Preparation Act |
Entry Tax (All Forms) & Purchase Tax |
Service Tax |
Tax on lottery, betting and gambling |
Central Excise Duty & Additional Excise Duties |
Entertainment Tax (except those levied by local bodies) |
|
State surcharges and cesses in so far as they relate to supply of goods & services |
Benefits of GST
GST has brought benefits to the whole country. It carries advantages to everyone, from businesses to the customer to the government and intermediaries in between. The benefits of GST are mentioned in the table below:
Benefits of GST |
|
Benefits to the economy |
Increased investment and employment |
Boost to Make in India initiative |
|
Creation of a unified national market |
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Simplified tax structure |
Certainty in tax administration |
Easy to do business |
|
Easy tax payment and filing |
[2] Easy to pay GST and file the return |
Automated procedures with greater use of IT |
|
Advantages for business |
Benefits to small traders and businesses |
Removal of tax on tax |
|
Benefits to the industry |
1. Benefits to the economy:
● Increased investment and employment: GST brought the various Central and State taxes into a single system. It made set-off of input tax possible on goods and services. Removing Central Sales Tax (CST) has diminished the cost of locally manufactured goods and services.
● Boost to Make in India initiative: GST has given a significant lift to the government’s ‘Make in India’ program by making India’s goods and services competitive in the national and worldwide market.
● Creation of a unified national market: GST has made India a unified market with the same tax rates and laws.
2. Simplified tax structure:
● Certainty in tax administration: Uniform policies and rules for goods and services across the nation.
● Ease of doing business: A more comfortable tax system with fewer exclusions. A decrease in the variety of duties under GST has enabled uniformity and simplified the tax structure.
3. Easy tax compliance
● Reduction in costs: The many forms, returns, filings under the previous system are not required anymore. Therefore GST replaces the multiple records of the old system.
●Automated procedures with greater IT use: There are automated and simplified procedures for various processes such as tax payments, refunds, returns, and registration.
4. Advantages for trade and industry
● Benefits to small businesses: GST has expanded the GST registration threshold for small businesses, making it advantageous to small businesses.
● Reduction of ill-effects of tax on tax: It helps in improving the cash flow of the businesses, improving competition, and removing the previous tax on tax system.
● Benefits to the industry: The simple chain of set-offs’ extends the tax base and consistency brings down the tax rate.
Simple and easy tax
The current framework of indirect taxation with GST is simple, easy to understand. It also allows for the input tax credit to be set off against output tax liability. It prevents the tax on tax effect. GST makes tax easy, even for small businesses.
Also Read: 7 Ways Goods and Service Tax benefits the Economy