A Glimpse of recent Changes in GST Law and its Rates

Traders urge Finance Minister, GST council to modify new GST notification. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has introduced Rule 86B in GST Rules, to be applicable from January 1, 2021, which restricts use of input tax credit for discharging GST liability to 99 per cent.
In case of any changes to legal name of a business, GST registration certificate need not be cancelled. The GST registration can be amended to reflect the new business name. Changes to business name can be updated on the GST portal by filing FORM GST REG-14 within 15 days of change of business name.

Union Finance minister Shri P.Chidambaram while presenting the Union budget (2006-07), announced that GST would be introduced from April 1,2010.
On 27/3/2017 the central GST legislations – central goods and service tax bill 2017,Integrated goods and service tax bill 2017,Union territory goods and service tax bill 2017 and goods and services tax(compensation to states)2017 were passed in Loksabha
Loksabha bills were passed and assented by president on April 2017
With effect from 1st july2017 ,the historic indirect tax reform –GST was introduced.
GST law was extended to Jammu and Kashmir on 8th July 2017
GST is a consumption based levy.
India has adopted Dual model system ,tax is imposed simultaneously by central and state government
It is a Destination based tax.

Other Indirect Tax regime

It is required to have a brief view of the existing indirect taxes regime, before proceeding to understanding GST.
The excise duty, import duties of customs, VAT/CST and service tax are the main levies at present.
a) Excise duty: Central Excise Duty is levied by the Central Government under the Central Excise Act, 1944. The levy is on all goods manufactured and produced in India, which are specified in the schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act subject to certain exemptions.
b) Import Duties: Customs duties are levied by the Central Government under the Customs Act, 1962. The levy gets attracted on all specified goods imported into and exported from India, which are specified in the schedule to the Customs Tariff Act.
c) Value Added Tax (VAT): Value Added Tax (VAT) is levied by the State Governments on transfer of property in goods from one person to another, when such transfer is for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration.
VAT is also payable on certain transactions that are deemed to be sale such as transfer of right to use goods, hire purchase and sale by installments, works contract and sale of food and drink as a part of rendering of any service.
d) CST: The rate of CST is 2% against the declaration in Form C and in case the said declaration is not provided by the buyer, they are subject to tax at the rate specified in the local VAT law.
Form C is allowed to be issued by the buyer when he purchases the goods for use in manufacture or for resale or for use in telecommunication network or in mining or in generation or distribution of power.
e) Service Tax: Service tax is levied on specified services, referred to as taxable services, when rendered by a service provider.

GST

Goods & Service Tax (GST) as the name suggests, is a tax on supply of goods or services. Any person, providing or supplying goods or services will be liable to charge GST.

Tax Subsumed into GST

The above mentioned indirect taxes regime are subsumed into GST ,Except

Alcohol for human consumption – Power to tax remains with the state
Five petroleum products (crude oil ,diesel , petrol ,natural gas and ATF ) – GST Council to decide the date from which GST will be applicable.
Entertainment Tax levied by local bodies – Power to levy tax remains with the local bodies
Tobacco – Within the purview of GST , Power to levy excise duties ,also retained

Benefits of GST

Creation of unified national market , so that with common tax rates and procedures
Boost to Make in India initiative
Ease of doing business
Certainity in tax administration
Benefits of small tax payers, has in GST has increased the threshold limit for registration and compliance procedures

Constitutional powers

Power to levy Goods and services Tax has been conferred by Article 246A of the constitution which was introduced by the constitution(101st amendment )Act,2016

Supply under GST

Intra state supply – supply within the state /union territory
Inter state supply – Supply with other /outer state /union terriotory

Rate Structure

GST will be levied on the transaction value i.e. price actually paid or payable for supply of goods and services.
The GST for local supplies will be split into SGST and CGST. GST for inter state supply will be payable only towards IGST
GST would have a 4 rate structure with standard rate, concessional rate, special rate for bullion & jewellery and exempted/ nil rated.
GST will be levied on supply of goods and services and the supplier will be allowed credit for the GST paid on purchases.

Returns

The registered tax payer has to file corresponding monthly and annual returns as per the CGST /SGST/IGST Act 2017.

Exemptions

Under this tax regime , certain classes of goods are exempted from GST tax liability

Administrative Mechanism:

Both the Central Government and State Government will have the authority and control over the assessee as follows:

The administration of the Central GST would be with the Centre and for State GST with the States.
Each taxpayer could be allotted a PAN linked taxpayer identification number with a total of 13/15 digits. This would bring the GST PAN-linked system in line with the prevailing PAN-based system for Income tax facilitating data exchange and taxpayer compliance. The exact design would be worked out in consultation with the Income-Tax Department.
Keeping in mind the need of tax payers convenience, functions such as assessment, enforcement, scrutiny and audit would be undertaken by the authority which is collecting the tax, with information sharing between the Centre and the States.
Accordingly, the assessee dealer would be required to pay GST into the specified account of the State/ Centre and file periodic returns separately with the State/ Central Government.