- 28 Mar 2025 06:46 PM
- New
GST on Medicines and Medical Goods: Government Stance
Source: https://taxguru.in/goods-and-service-tax/gst-medicines-medical-goods-government-stance.html
The Government of India addressed queries regarding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on medicines and medical goods in a recent Rajya Sabha session. The GST rates and exemptions are determined by the GST Council, which currently has no recommendations to remove GST on all medicines and medical goods. Jan Aushadhi medicines are sold with GST included in their Maximum Retail Price (MRP) as per existing legislation. Healthcare services, including treatments and inpatients’ food, are exempt from GST if room charges do not exceed ₹5,000 per day. State/UT-wise GST revenue from medicines and medical goods for the financial years 2019-20 to 2023-24 indicates a steady rise, with total collections growing from ₹8,861.70 crores in 2019-20 to ₹13,616.48 crores in 2023-24. The annexure to the parliamentary reply provides a detailed breakdown of revenue across states, highlighting significant contributions from states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.
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- 28 Mar 2025 06:50 PM
- New
FAQs on‘Restaurant Service’ supplied at ‘Specified Premises’
Source: https://taxguru.in/goods-and-service-tax/faqs-restaurant-service-supplied-specified-premises.html
This document clarifies GST rules for “restaurant services” within “specified premises,” effective April 1, 2025. “Specified premises” now refer to hotels with accommodation value exceeding ₹7,500/unit/day in the prior financial year, or those declared as such by the supplier. Restaurant services in these premises attract 18% GST with Input Tax Credit (ITC), while those outside incur 5% without ITC. The concept of “declared tariff” is replaced with “value of supply.” Suppliers can declare premises as “specified” via Annexure VII (existing registrants) or Annexure VIII (new registrants) and opt-out via Annexure IX, filed annually between January 1st and March 31st. Declarations are valid until opted-out. Multiple premises under a single registration require separate declarations. Premises exceeding the value threshold automatically become “specified.” ITC rules differ for premises with mixed tax rates.
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- 28 Mar 2025 06:43 PM
- New
Maharashtra GST Dept Lists of 7773 Non-Genuine Taxpayers on 28.02.2025
As of February 28, 2025, the Maharashtra State Goods and Services Tax (GST) Department has compiled a list of non-existent or non-genuine taxpayers whose GST Registration Certificates (RC) have been canceled ab initio. This initiative is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to identify and eliminate fraudulent entities that undermine the integrity of the tax system.
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- 27 Mar 2025 06:53 PM
GST Grievances & Recommendations – Sales Tax Bar Association
The Sales Tax Bar Association (Regd.) has raised key GST-related concerns in a representation to the Principal Chief Commissioner, CGST & Central Excise, Delhi. Major issues include a lack of clarity in documentation for businesses operating from shared premises, additional document demands beyond legal requirements, and the inability to withdraw or edit GST registration applications, causing unnecessary delays. The association also recommends a mandatory notice viewing system on the GST portal to enhance communication and compliance. Further, it highlights difficulties in availing the GST Amnesty Scheme due to the mandatory DRC-03A requirement, particularly in cases where appeals are partially accepted or direct payments are made through the Electronic Liability Register. Another critical issue is the delay in appeal disposals due to staff shortages, making it difficult for taxpayers to meet Amnesty Scheme deadlines. To address this, the association urges the government to deploy additional manpower and extend the scheme’s due date from March 31 to June 30, 2025.
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- 27 Mar 2025 06:32 PM
Why a ‘health tax’ alone may not solve India’s junk food crisis
The growing consumption of ultra-processed food and aggressive marketing techniques by brands, such as pushing them to shelves labelled as healthy, have caught the government's eye. The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlighted the issue and suggested several corrective steps from awareness campaigns and stricter labelling to a ‘health tax’ to curb the excessive consumption of ultra-processed food.
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- 26 Mar 2025 06:13 PM
New income tax bill to be tabled in monsoon session: Sitharaman
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said a select committee has been mandated to submit its report on the new bill by the first day of the upcoming monsoon session.
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- 26 Mar 2025 06:23 PM
GST on Higher Education: Current Exemptions & Policies
Source: https://taxguru.in/goods-and-service-tax/gst-higher-education-current-exemptions-policies.html
The government has stated that GST rates and exemptions for education services are determined by the GST Council, which includes both Union and State/UT representatives. Any change in GST rates or exemptions follows a deliberative process. Currently, no city-based differential GST rates exist. Several educational services are exempt under Notification 12/2017-Central Tax (Rate), including services provided by educational institutions to students, faculty, and staff, entrance examinations, and admission-related services. Schools receive additional exemptions for transport, catering (including mid-day meals), security, cleaning, and online journals for higher education institutions. The definition of “educational institution” includes pre-schools, schools up to higher secondary, recognized degree programs, and approved vocational courses. Additionally, affiliation services provided by educational boards to government or government-controlled schools are also exempt. Under Notification 02/2017, exemptions extend to printed books (including Braille), newspapers, journals, periodicals, children’s books, slates, chalk, and slate pencils. While the government acknowledges concerns about the financial burden on students, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Sangli, there is currently no recommendation from the GST Council to alter existing GST rates on higher education services.
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- 26 Mar 2025 06:16 PM
Budget aims to do reforms to build Viksit Bharat by 2047, says FM Niramala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Tuesday, underscored the Union government's commitment to providing tax certainty and streamlining business regulations as part of the broader vision to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
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- 26 Mar 2025 06:18 PM
Why a ‘health tax’ alone may not solve India’s junk food crisis
The growing consumption of ultra-processed food and aggressive marketing techniques by brands, such as pushing them to shelves labelled as healthy, have caught the government's eye. The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlighted the issue and suggested several corrective steps from awareness campaigns and stricter labelling to a ‘health tax’ to curb the excessive consumption of ultra-processed food.
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- 26 Mar 2025 06:33 PM
CGST Delhi East Hosts GST Registration Campaign 2025
Source: https://taxguru.in/goods-and-service-tax/cgst-delhi-east-hosts-gst-registration-campaign-2025.html
CGST Delhi East Commissionerate launched a two-day GST Registration Campaign on March 21-22, 2025, aimed at increasing awareness and compliance among unregistered traders and manufacturers. Helpdesks were set up at key locations in areas like Seelampur, Jaffrabad, and Gandhi Nagar, addressing over 2,000 trader queries. The campaign resulted in more than 100 fresh GST registrations and distributed 7,500 pamphlets in Hindi and Urdu to highlight GST provisions.
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