GST compensation
Date: 06 January 2022 Tags: miscellaneousIssue
States are demanding that the GST compensation mechanism to be extended by five more years.
Background
The compensation mechanism was a unique feature that remained up to five years from the date of implementation of GST.
Details
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States have been demanding that the compensation mechanism be extended for some more time as their revenues have taken a hit due to Covid-19.
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The expenses of the state have gone up and they expect higher deficit as revenue growth is low.
The compensation
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The nation-wide GST was levied based on the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016.
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The GST compensation was the mechanism to suitably compensate states for loss of revenue arising out of implementation of the GST. It would be applicable for a period of five years.
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It was believed the states would endure a revenue shortfall if they gave up their rights to impose local-level indirect taxes.
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Even though the GST contained provisions for giving the SGST (State GST) component of the GST, and a share of the IGST (Integrated GST) to the states, revenue shortfall was expected.
Funding of compensation
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The funds for GST compensation were raised through a compensation cess levied on so-called ‘demerit’ goods.
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This includes goods such as pan masala, tobacco, aerated waters and motor cars apart from coal.
Calculating shortfall
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The shortfall was calculated based on a mechanism given in Section 7 of the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017.
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It is assumed based on 14% compounded growth from the base year’s (2015-2016) revenue and calculating the difference between that figure and the actual GST collections in that year.