Arun Jaitley hints at scope for rationalisation of GST rates

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday indicated that there could be scope for rationalisation of rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as its implementation progresses.

He gave the indication in the Lok Sabha while replying to a debate on the Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill, 2017 and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill, 2017 which were later passed by a voice vote.

Jaitley also said that he was under pressure to change the GST Network which people said was faulty but felt the structure was correct.

He said technically GSTN is not a government company but its board has government majority and therefore, no decision can be taken without the consent of the government nominee.

The company is also open to audit by the CAG.

With regard to criticism over several slabs in the GST rates, the finance minister said there cannot be a single slab in a country like India which has a large population below poverty line (BPL).

As an example, he said a chappal and a BMW car cannot have the same tax rate.

On the claims that after GST, disability aid will get costlier, he explained that while the different material used to manufacture a wheel chair may attract higher GST rates, the manufacturer can avail input credit for the final product which attracts 5 per cent tax.