Rate changes of Key items by GST council

The Proactive approach to a mistake is to acknowledge it instantly, correct and learn from it. - Stephen Covey

Yes, there have been many issues with post GST Implementation, however, before criticizing the council or government, please do consider the diversity in all aspect our country possess. GST implementation is a huge transformation and will definitely take time span on 1 to 2 years before being stabilized. So ignoring the political angle, I would really appreciate the decisions taken in 22nd GST Council meeting held on 6th October 2017. Government and GST Council have been very proactive till date as far as taking the decisions and I hope they remain so in future.

Following are some of the key take away from 22nd GST Council Meeting held on 6th October 2017:

1. COMPOSITION TAX PAYER LIMIT INCREASED:

The limit for composition tax payer has been increased to Rs. 1 Crore from Rs. 75 Lakhs presently. For Special category states (except Jammu Kashmir & Uttarakhand) the same has been increased to Rs.75 lakhs from Rs. 50 Lakhs.

2. TIME LIMIT TO AVAIL THE COMPOSITION FACILITY INCREASED:

Facility to avail the composition scheme UNDER THE INCREASED THRESHOLD shall be available to both migrated and new tax payer up to 31st March 2018.

3. New entrants for Composition scheme can be partly for the quarter as well. i.e. if you enter the composition scheme on 1st November 2017, for the quarter Oct-Dec, The assessee shall file return as regular assessee for October and for November and December he shall file return as composition tax payer.

4. TRADER PROVIDING EXEMPT SERVICE CAN OPT FOR COMPOSITION SCHEME:

Persons who are otherwise eligible for composition scheme but are providing any exempt service (such as extending deposits to banks for which interest is being received) were being considered ineligible for the said scheme. It has been decided that such persons who are otherwise eligible for availing the composition scheme and are providing any exempt service, shall be eligible for the composition scheme.

5. INTERSTATE SERVICE SUPPLIER LIABLE FOR REGISTRATION ONLY IF TURNOVER EXCEEDS RS. 20LAKHS:

It has now been decided to exempt those service providers whose annual aggregate turnover is less than Rs. 20 lakhs (Rs.10 lakhs in special category states except J & K) from obtaining registration even if they are making inter-State taxable supplies of services. This measure is expected to significantly reduce the compliance cost of small service providers.

6. QUARTERLY RETURNS FOR ASSESSE HAVING TURNOVER UPTO RS. 1.5 CRORES:

GSTR 1, GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 shall be filed quarterly by the asessee having t/o up to Rs. 1.5 crores, from 3rd Quarter Oct-Dec 2017 onwards. However all such taxpayer shall be required to file GSTR 3B atleast upto December 2017.

7. Reverse Mechanism Charge has been suspended till 31st March 2018 with respect to purchase from Un Registered Supplier.

8. Small dealers (Whose turnover is upto Rs. 1.5 Crore) are not required to pay tax on advance received.

9. The services provided by a GTA to an unregistered person shall be exempted from GST.

10. TDS/TCS provisions shall be postponed till 31.03.2018.

11. The e-way bill system shall be introduced in a staggered manner with effect from 01.01.2018 and shall be rolled out nationwide with effect from 01.04.2018.

12. The last date for filing the return in FORM GSTR-4 by a taxpayer under composition scheme for the quarter July-September, 2017 shall be extended to 15.11.2017.

FOLLOWING HIGH LEVEL LIST OF RATE CHANGED ITEMS