Saturday, 11 November 2017

GST – LATEST-1

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES IN GST/IGST RATE AND
CLARIFICATIONS IN RESPECT OF GST RATE ON CERTAIN GOODS 
 [As per discussions in the 23rd GST Council Meeting held on 10th November, 2017]

These decisions of the GST Council are being communicated for general information, and will be given effect to through Gazette notifications / circulars which only shall have the force of law.  

A.          LIST OF GOODS ON WHICH GST RATE RECOMMENDED FOR REDUCTION FROM 28% TO 18%






S.  No.
Chapter/
Heading/
Subheading/
Tariff item
                                   Description
1.  
1704
Chewing gum / bubble gum and white chocolate, not containing cocoa  [17041000, 17049090]
2.  
1804
Cocoa butter, fat and oil
3.  
1805
Cocoa powder, not containing added sugar or sweetening matter
4.  
1806
Chocolates and other food preparations containing cocoa
5.  
1901 90
[other than
1901 10,
1901 20 00]
Malt extract; food preparations of flour, groats, meal, starch or malt extract, not containing cocoa or containing less than 40% by weight of cocoa calculated on a totally defatted basis, not elsewhere specified or included; food preparations of goods of heading 0401 to 0404, not containing cocoa or containing less than 5% by weight of cocoa calculated on a totally defatted basis not elsewhere specified or included [other than preparations for infants or young children, put up for retail sale and mixes and doughs for the preparation of bakers’ wares of heading 1905]
6.  
1905 32
Waffles and wafers coated with chocolate or containing chocolate
7.  
2101 11, 
2101 12 00
Extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee, and preparations with a basis of these extracts, essences or concentrates or with a basis of coffee
8.  
2106
Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included i.e. Protein concentrates and textured protein substances, Sugar-syrups containing added flavouring or colouring matter, not elsewhere specified or included; lactose syrup; glucose syrup and malto dextrine syrup, Compound preparations for making non-alcoholic beverages, Food flavouring material, Churna for pan [ other than pan masala].
9.  
2202 90 90
Other non-alcoholic beverages
10.  
2515 12 20, 
2515 12 90
Marble and travertine, other than blocks
11.  
2516 12 00
Granite, other than blocks
12.  
2710
Avgas
13.  
3213
Artists’, students’ or signboard painters’ colours, modifying tints, amusement colours and the like, in tablets, tubes, jars, bottles, pans or in similar forms or packings
14.  
3303
Perfumes and toilet waters
15.  
3304
Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin (other than medicaments), including sunscreen or sun tan preparations; manicure or pedicure preparations [other than kajal, Kumkum, Bindi, Sindur, Alta]
16.  
3305
Preparations for use on the hair [other than Hair oil].
17.  
3306 [other than 3306 10 10, 3306
10 20]
Preparations for oral or dental hygiene, including and powders; yarn used to clean between the teeth (dental floss), in individual retail packages [other than dentifrices in powder or paste from (tooth powder or toothpaste)]
18.  
3307
Pre-shave, shaving or after-shave preparations, personal deodorants, bath preparations, depilatories and other perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations, not elsewhere specified or included; prepared room deodorisers, whether or not perfumed or having disinfectant properties [other than odoriferous preparations which operate by burning , agarbattis, lobhan, dhoop batti, dhoop, sambhrani]
19.  
3401 30
Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent
20.  
3402
Organic surface-active agents (other than soap); surface-active preparations, washing preparations (including auxiliary washing preparations) and cleaning preparations, whether or not containing soap, other than those of heading 3401
21.  
3403
Lubricating preparations (including cutting-oil preparations, bolt or nut release preparations, anti-rust or anti-corrosion preparations and mould release preparations, based on lubricants) and preparations of a kind used for the oil or grease treatment of textile materials, leather, furskins or other materials, but excluding preparations containing, as basic constituents, 70% or more by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals
22.  
3405
Polishes and creams, for footwear, furniture, floors, coachwork, glass or metal, scouring pastes and powders and similar preparations (whether or not in the form of paper, wadding, felt, nonwovens, cellular plastics or cellular rubber, impregnated, coated or covered with such preparations), excluding waxes of heading 3404
23.  
3602
Prepared explosives, other than propellant powders; such as Industrial explosives
24.  
3604
Fireworks, signalling flares, rain rockets, fog signals and other pyrotechnic articles
25.  
3606
Ferro-cerium and other pyrophoric alloys in all forms; articles of combustible materials as specified in Note 2 to this Chapter; such as liquid or liquefied-gas fuels in containers of a kind used for filling or refilling cigarette or similar lighters
26.  
3811
Anti-knock preparations, oxidation inhibitors, gum inhibitors, viscosity improvers, anti-corrosive preparations and other prepared additives, for mineral oils (including gasoline) or for other liquids used for the same purposes as mineral oils
27.  
3813
Preparations and charges for fire-extinguishers; charged fire extinguishing grenades
28.  
3814
Organic composite solvents and thinners, not elsewhere specified or included; prepared paint or varnish removers
29.  
3819
Hydraulic brake fluids and other prepared liquids for hydraulic transmission, not containing or containing less than 70% by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals
30.  
3820
Anti-freezing preparations and prepared de-icing fluids
31.  
3918
Floor coverings of plastics, whether or not self-adhesive, in rolls or in form of tiles; wall or ceiling coverings of plastics
32.  
3922
Baths, shower baths, sinks, wash basins, bidets, lavatory pans, seats and covers, flushing cisterns and similar sanitary ware of plastics
33.  
3926 [other than 3926 40 11, 3926
90 10]
Other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings 3901 to 3914 [other than bangles of plastic, PVC Belt Conveyor, plastic beads, plastic tarpaulins, medical grade sterile disposable gloves, plastic rain coats]
34.  
4013
Inner tubes of rubber [other than of a kind used on/in bicycles, cycle rickshaws and three wheeled powered cycle rickshaws; and Rear Tractor tyre tubes]
35.  
4016 [other than 4016 92 00]
Other articles of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber (other than erasers and rubber bands)
36.  
4017
Hard rubber (for example ebonite) in all forms, other than waste and scrap; articles of hard rubber
37.  
4201
Saddlery and harness for any animal (including traces, leads, knee pads, muzzles, saddle cloths, saddle bags, dog coats and the like), of any material

GST – LATEST

Press Release
10th November, 2017
Recommendations made by the GST Council in the 23rd meeting at Guwahati on 10th November, 2017
The GST Council, in its 23rd meeting held at Guwahati on 10th November 2017, has recommended the following facilitative measures for taxpayers:
Return Filing
a)     The return filing process is to be further simplified in the following manner:
i.              All taxpayers would file return in FORM GSTR-3B along with payment of tax by 20th of the succeeding month till March, 2018. 
ii.            For filing of details in FORM GSTR-1 till March 2018, taxpayers would be divided into two categories. Details of these two categories along with the last date of filing GSTR 1 are as follows:
(a)    Taxpayers with annual aggregate turnover upto Rs. 1.5 crore need to file GSTR-1 on quarterly basis as per following frequency:
Period
Dates
Jul- Sep
31st Dec 2017
Oct- Dec
15th Feb 2018
Jan- Mar
30th April 2018

(b)    Taxpayers with annual aggregate turnover more than Rs. 1.5 crore need to file GSTR-1 on monthly basis as per following frequency:

Period
Dates
Jul- Oct
31st Dec 2017
Nov
10th Jan 2018
Dec
10th Feb 2018 
Jan
10th Mar 2018
Feb 
10th Apr 2018

Mar
10th May 2018

i.              The time period for filing GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 for the months of July, 2017 to March 2018 would be worked out by a Committee of Officers. However, filing of GSTR-1 will continue for the entire period without requiring filing of GSTR-2 & GSTR-3 for the previous month / period.
b)     A large number of taxpayers were unable to file their return in FORM GSTR-3B within due date for the months of July, August and September, 2017. Late fee was waived in all such cases. It has been decided that where such late fee was paid, it will be re-credited to their Electronic Cash Ledger under “Tax” head instead of “Fee” head so as to enable them to use that amount for discharge of their future tax liabilities. The software changes for this would be made and thereafter this decision will be implemented. 
c)     For subsequent months, i.e. October 2017 onwards, the amount of late fee payable by a taxpayer whose tax liability for that month was ‘NIL’will be Rs. 20/- per day (Rs. 10/- per day each under CGST & SGST Acts) instead of Rs. 200/- per day (Rs. 100/- per day each under CGST & SGST Acts). 

Manual Filing
d)     A facility for manual filing of application for advance ruling is being introduced for the time being.

Further benefits for service providers
e)     Exports of services to Nepal and Bhutan have already been exempted from GST. It has now been decided that such exporters will also be eligible for claiming Input Tax Credit in respect of goods or services used for effecting such exempt supply of services to Nepal and Bhutan.
f)      In an earlier meeting of the GST Council, it was 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. As a further measure towards taxpayer facilitation, it has been decided to exempt such suppliers providing services through an e-commerce platform from obtaining compulsory registration provided their aggregate turnover does not exceed twenty lakh rupees. As a result, all service providers, whether supplying intra-State, inter-State or through ecommerce operator, will be exempt from obtaining GST registration, provided their aggregate turnover does not exceed Rs. 20 lakhs (Rs. 10 lakhs in special category States except J & K). 

Extension of dates
a)     Taking cognizance of the late availability or unavailability of some forms on the common portal, it has been decided that the due dates for furnishing the following forms shall be extended as under:


S. No.
FORM and Details
Original due date
Revised due date
1
GST ITC-04 for the quarter July-September, 2017
25.10.2017
31.12.2017
2
GSTR-4 for the quarter JulySeptember, 2017
18.10.2017
24.12.2017
3
GSTR-5 for July, 2017
20.08.2017 or 7 days from the
last date of registration whichever is earlier
11.12.2017
4
GSTR-5A for July, 2017
20.08.2017
15.12.2017
5
GSTR-6 for July, 2017
13.08.2017
31.12.2017
6
TRAN-1
30.09.2017
31.12.2017 (Onetime option of revision also to be given till this date)

Revised due dates for subsequent tax periods will be announced in due course.

Benefits for Diplomatic Missions/UN organizations
b)     In order to lessen the compliance burden on Foreign Diplomatic Missions / UN Organizations, a centralized UIN will be issued to every Foreign Diplomatic Mission / UN Organization by the Central Government and all compliance for such agencies will be done by the Central Government in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs.

2.  Relevant notifications for all of the above decisions will be issued shorty, so as to be effective from 15.11.2017. 

GST – LATEST