GST relief for consumers: These 178 items became cheaper from Nov 15

From shampoo and detergents to fans, wires and cable, here is the list of items that became cheaper from Wednesday after the GST Council moved 178 items from the 28% GST bracket to 18%.

GST News :After the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council at its 23rd meeting on November 10 recommended a major relief in rates on certain goods, a set of 178 items of common use were moved from the highest tax bracket of 28 per cent to 18 per cent with effect from November 15.

With the rate reduction coming into effect, consumers get the GST relief & benefit in the form of a corresponding reduction in the price on these goods.

According to the government, the 178 items that have become cheaper for consumers can be classified as under:

* Wires, cables, insulated conductors, electrical insulators, electrical plugs, switches, sockets, fuses, relays, electrical connectors

* Electrical boards, panels, consoles, cabinets etc for electric control or distribution

* Particle/fibre boards and plywood; articles of wood, wooden frame, paving block

* Furniture, mattress, bedding and similar furnishing

* Trunk, suitcase, vanity cases, briefcases, travelling bags and other handbags, cases

* Detergents, washing and cleaning preparations

* Liquid or cream for washing the skin

* Shampoos; Hair cream, Hair dyes (natural, herbal or synthetic) and similar other goods; henna powder or paste, not mixed with any other ingredient;

Click to Read → Full List of GST rate

From chocolates to cutlery: 200 items cheaper as GST cuts notified

The government formally notified the lower rates, including on chocolates, waffles, furniture, wristwatches, cutlery, suitcases, ceramic tiles and articles of cement.

GST News : Eating out and a little over 200 products of mass consumption, including detergents and ceiling fans, became cheaper from Wednesday with the lower goods and services tax (GST) rates taking effect.

The finance ministry has told citizens to remember this while purchasing these. The government formally notified the lower rates, including on chocolates, waffles, furniture, wristwatches, cutlery, suitcases, ceramic tiles and articles of cement.

The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, had on Friday in Guwahati decided to cut rates on these items to provide relief to consumers and businesses, amid an economic slowdown. The Council pruned the list of items in the top 28 per cent GST slab to 50, from the earlier 228.

Another 176 had the rate cut from 28 per cent to 18 per cent — chewing gum, chocolates, coffee, custard powder, marble and granite, dental hygiene products, polishes and creams, sanitary ware, leather clothing, artificial fur, wigs, cookers, stoves, after-shave deodorant, detergent and washing power, razors and blades, cutlery, water heaters, batteries, goggles, wristwatches and mattresses, among others.

The tax on wet grinders, tanks and armoured vehicles was reduced to 12 per cent from the peak rate. And, a uniform five per cent tax prescribed for all restaurants, both air-conditioned and not.

Broadly, in the highest tax slab are what are termed luxury goods and ‘sin’ goods — pan masala, aerated water, beverages, cigars and cigarettes, tobacco products, cement, paints, perfumes, air conditioners, dish washing machines, washing machines, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, cars, two-wheelers, aircraft and yachts.

Rate on six items were reduced from 18 per cent to five per cent, on eight items from 12 per cent to five per cent, and on six items from five per cent to nil.

Click here to Know → Full List of GST rate

5% GST at restaurants from today: Why your food bill may still not change

AC restaurants and non-AC restaurants will charge 5% GST, down from 18% and 12% respectively

GST News :  Eating out at restaurants will get cheaper as GST council, which lowered the tax rate to a uniform five per cent from 12 per cent on non-AC restaurants and 18 per cent on air-conditioned ones comes into effect from Wednesday.

Currently, air-conditioned restaurants levy a charge of 18 per cent on food bill and non-AC restaurants levy 12 per cent tax.

As the new rate comes into effect today, here’s how it will impact you:

The Downside

• Menu prices: According to a report by Scroll, restaurant owners have been mulling a price rise on their menu. This is because of the high rent they have to pay at expensive locations, loss of input tax credit and competition from big eateries. Several restaurant owners are not convinced that a lower tax will make up for the loss of input tax.
• Input tax credit: Many restaurant owners have indicated that the move may drive prices up, courtesy withdrawall of input tax credit. Under input tax credit, businesses can claim an offset on the tax paid on inputs against the tax paid to the government. But, now the Council has done away with the tax credit on food items used as raw material.
• According to Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India President Garish Oberoi the input tax credit accounts for three to four per cent of a restaurant’s profit, the report added.

The Upside

• You won’t need to burn a hole in your pocket in order to dine at fancy AC restaurants. From 18 per cent tax to five per cent, you will be saving 13 percentage points tax on your food bill.
• Similarly, at non-AC restaurants, you will be saving 7 percentage points tax on your bill as the same has been slashed from 12 per cent to five per cent.
• Want to just chill and order food at home instead? No worries as delivery apps such as Zomato and Swiggy will be delivering food from restaurants that will charge you the revised tax rates i.e five per cent.

Click here to Know → GST on Restaurant Bills