Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 48th Meeting of the GST Council

way2barak, Dec.17: The 48th GST Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman via virtual mode in New Delhi today. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary besides Finance Ministers of States & UTs (with legislature) and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance & States/ UTs.

The GST Council has inter-alia made the following recommendations relating to changes in GST tax rates, measures for facilitation of trade and measures for streamlining compliances in GST:

2. It was also decided to include supply of Mentha arvensis under reverse charge mechanism as has been done for Mentha Oil.
3. It was decided to clarify that:

• Rab (rab-salawat) is classifiable  under CTH 1702 which attracts GST at the rate of 18%.
• fryums manufactured using the process of extrusion is specifically covered under  CTH 19059030 and attract GST at the rate of 18%.
• The higher rate of compensation cess of 22% is applicable to motor vehicle fulfilling all four conditions, namely, it is popularly known as SUV, has engine capacity exceeding 1500 cc, length exceeding 4000 mm and a ground clearance of 170 mm or above
• goods  falling in lower rate category of 5% under schedule I of notification No. 1/2017-CTR imported  for petroleum operations will attract lower rate of 5% and the rate of 12% shall be applicable only if the general rate is more than 12%

In this 48th GST Council Meeting, there hasn't been any tax increase on any item. No new taxation has been brought in. Everything that has been done is to issue clarifications where ambiguity of interpretations prevailed.

– Smt @nsitharaman. pic.twitter.com/rb3RGzaotL

— NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) December 17, 2022

4. As a relief measure, the Council decided to regularise the intervening period starting from the date of issuance of Circular (3.08.2022)  in respect of GST on ‘husk of pulses including chilka and concentrates including chuni/churi, khanda’  on “ as is basis”  on account of genuine doubts.
5. No GST is payable where the residential dwelling is rented to a registered person if it is rented it in his/her personal capacity for use as his/her own residence and on his own account and not on account of his business.
6. Incentive paid to banks by Central Government under the scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low value BHIM-UPI transactions are in the nature of subsidy and thus not taxable.