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News:The GST Council has written to states telling them that the GST and compensation cess collections are unlikely to be met this year.
Facts:
About GST Compensation Cess:
- A cess is a tax that is levied by the government to raise funds for a specific purpose.
- As part of the GST reforms, the GST Compensation Cess has been introduced through the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017.
- According to the Act,states are guaranteed compensation for any revenue shortfall below 14% growth (base year 2015-16) for the first five years ending 2022.
- The GST Compensation cess has to be paid every two months by the Centre to states.
- However,due to a shortfall in tax collections,the Centre is unable to compensate states for loss of revenue.
What is the way forward?
- The GST Council has decided to comprehensively review the tax structure in the wake of growing revenue concerns.
- The review will include exempted items,GST and compensation cess rates and revenue augmentation measures.
- However,since the compensation cess is imposed only on luxury and sin goods under GST, any measure to generate more cess collections would either include imposing a higher cess on those items or tinkering at the highest 28% tax slab under the indirect tax regime.
Additional information:
About GST Council:
- Goods & Services Tax(GST) Council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax.
- As per Article 279A (1) of the constitution, the GST Council was constituted by the President.
- The council consists of the following members: (a) The Union Finance Minister is the Chairperson (b) The Union Minister of State in-charge of Revenue of finance and (c) The Minister In-charge of finance or taxation or any other Minister nominated by each State Government.
