Daily use items may get a revision

New Delhi, Aug. 7: A number of daily use items ranging from idli/ dosa batter to kitchen gas lighter may cost less as the GST Council is considering lowering rates on these items.

Tax rates on over two dozen products are being sought to be lowered by the GST Council after anomalies in their fixations were pointed out, official sources said.

To deal with businesses that are deregistering their brands post GST to avoid taxes, the fitment committee has proposed to the GST Council to consider May 15, 2017, as the cut off date for considering as a registered brand for the purpose of levy of GST, irrespective of whether or not the brand is subsequently deregistered.

A final decision in this regard would be taken by the GST Council at its next meeting on September 9 in Hyderabad.

Sources said that the GST Fitment Committee has approved new rate structure of over two dozen items and forwarded the proposal to the apex decision making body.

The GST Council in the August 5 meeting considered and approved lower rates for some of these items and the remaining will be taken up in the next meet on September 9, they said.

Sources, however, could not state the items on which the tax rates have been lowered.

They said GST on dried tamarind has been proposed to be lowered to 5 per cent from 12 per cent currently and so will be the case in roasted gram.

Custard power would attract 18 per cent GST as against 28 per cent currently while idli/dosa batter would be charged with 12 per cent tax against 18 per cent currently.

Oil cakes would be charged with a uniform 5 per cent GST irrespective of end use.

GST on dhoop batti, dhoop and other similar items has been proposed at 5 per cent, down from 12 per cent at present.