What is Goods and Services Tax

Explain the concept of Goods and Services Tax in India.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive indirect tax levy on manufacture, sale, and consumption of goods and services at a national level. It has been implemented in India from 1st July 2017 to replace a complex tax structure. GST aims to create a unified national market by removing state boundaries and streamlining the taxation process. Here are some important points to understand GST in India:
  • GST is a destination-based tax, i.e., tax is levied on the final consumption of goods and services.
  • It is levied on both goods and services, and the rates of GST vary according to the classification of products and services under different tax slabs.
  • GST has been implemented under four tax slabs - 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. The rates of GST have been reduced for many consumer goods to keep inflation under control.
  • Registered businesses are required to file GST returns regularly and comply with tax regulations to avoid penalties and fines.
  • GST has replaced various indirect taxes such as central excise duty, service tax, value-added tax, and octroi with a single tax regime.
  • It will increase tax compliance, prevent tax evasion, and boost the country's economic growth by eliminating the cascading effect of taxes.
Overall, GST is an essential tax reform that will unify India's indirect tax system and create a stable, transparent, and predictable tax regime.
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