A Primer on Proposed Tax System on Goods and Services Part-I: Basic Concept and Framework

By CA. Pradip R Shah

Introduction:

With the release of the First Discussion Paper (FDP) by the Empowered Committee (EC) on the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST), the country is moving into an era of major tax reform in the arena of indirect taxes. Looking to the title of the paper one would have expected a thread-bare analysis on various aspects of the proposed tax system.

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IGST – Innovative way of handling Inter State Transactions

CA Hiral Raja

The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers unveiled the First Discussion paper on Goods and Service Tax in India on 10th November 2009. This discussion paper provides us with broad contours of dual GST to be implemented in India.

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Comments of the Department of Revenue (DoR) on the First Discussion Paper on GST

Introduction: “GST”, commonly known as Goods and Service Tax has now become the buzz word of the industry as a whole. Any news, views or comments on this topic influences the industry at large and when the comments are from the Department of Revenue the impact is surely gigantic. Recently, the Department of Revenue has released its comments on the First Discussion Paper on GST.

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Summary of Recommendations made by ICAI on Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India

1. STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF GST

1.1. Warm Welcome to the proposal to introduce GST

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India extends its warm welcome to the proposal to introduce a comprehensive destination based consumption tax called “Goods and Services Tax” (GST) to be implemented simultaneously in all the States all over India.

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Excise duty exemptions will be phased out gradually in GST regime

India may move to a dual Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime next year, but the Cenvat (excise duty) related exemptions, especially area-based ones, will not be withdrawn at one go for ushering in the new tax system. The Finance Ministry is not in favour of doing away with all the Central excise exemptions, numbering about 330, as part of the switchover to the GST regime.

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Report of Task Force on GST by the Thirteenth Finance Commission — A synopsis

Further to the First Discussion Paper released by the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on 10 November 2009, the Finance Commission has released its report giving its recommendations on GST design implementation.

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Report of the Task Force on GST Thirteenth Finance Commission

The Task Force appointed by the Thirteenth Finance Commission, Government of India, has issued a report on December 15, 2009 detailing the recommendations on various issues relating to the design and implementation of the proposed GST in India.

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Maharashtra taxman wants GST to be implemented from April 2011 instead of April 2010

Last month, the government released its much awaited white paper on the proposed goods & services tax or GST. This paper met with disappointment from corporate India and the tax community because not only are many details missing, but there are fundamental issues with the structure and format of this proposed tax that need to be sorted out. Now, the Maharashtra tax administrators are adding their voices to the dissent.

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