CEA Arvind Subramanian’s 18 per cent GST old hat, says Centre
New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday virtually washed its hands off the CEA Arvind Subramanian report that standard rate for GST be at 17-18 per cent, saying that the report was based on old data of 2013 and now new realities had to be looked at while calculating GST rate. Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said that today most goods are taxed at around 27 per cent and cautioned media against using 18 per cent as standard rate for GST, calling it “pre-mature”.
This may point that GST standard rate is likely to be higher than 18 per cent. Mr Adhia said that Centre is hopeful to get the approval of 16 states within 30 days required for President to notify GST council. “The calculation which CEA report has done and NIPFP has done, is based on taxable base of state and Centre as in 2013-14. Since then a lot of things have happened more in state and Centre level. We need to account for those changes which have happened in last two years. For example Centre government has come with many more cess in last two years. So the calculation does not include those cess etc.,” said revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia.
Congress had been demanding a cap in the GST at 18 per cent in the bill on the basis of Mr Subramanian panel report. Interestingly, Mr Subramanian had given his report in December 2015 only. However, in the evening CEA said that while a GST rate of close to 22 per cent will put inflationary pressure, higher rate of 27 per cent will become totally self-defeating. “At 27 per cent it is totally self-defeating...Up to 18-19 per cent there will be minimal impact on inflation and if it goes to 22 per cent there will be a few basis point increase,” Mr Subramanian warned.
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