Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India
Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India
Question 1:
Explain the concept of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in
India. What are its key objectives?
Answer:
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive,
multi-stage, destination-based tax levied on every value addition. It is
designed to replace multiple indirect taxes like VAT, excise, and service tax,
with a single tax to avoid the cascading effect (tax on tax).
Key Objectives of GST:
- Simplification
of Taxation: Simplifies the tax structure by combining multiple taxes
into one.
- Promote
Ease of Doing Business: With a single tax, businesses can easily
comply with tax regulations.
- Prevent
Cascading Effect: GST ensures tax is paid only on value-added,
removing the burden of tax on tax.
- Boost
Exports: GST ensures the refund of input taxes paid on exports, making
Indian exports competitive.
- Uniform
Tax Rate: Introduces a common tax system across states, making
interstate trade seamless.
Question 2:
Discuss the different types of GST that exist in India
and explain their applicability.
Answer:
In India, GST is classified into three main
categories based on the nature of transactions:
- CGST
(Central GST):
- Levied
by the Central Government on intra-state supply of goods and services.
- Collected
by the central government on transactions within a state.
- SGST
(State GST):
- Levied
by the State Government on intra-state supply of goods and services.
- Collected
by the state government along with CGST for transactions within the
state.
- IGST
(Integrated GST):
- Levied
on inter-state supply of goods and services.
- Collected
by the Central Government but distributed between the Central and State
Governments.
Applicability:
- CGST
and SGST are applicable when goods or services are supplied within a
state.
- IGST
is applicable when goods or services are supplied from one state to
another.
Question 3:
What is the concept of “Input Tax Credit” (ITC) under
GST? How does it benefit the taxpayer?
Answer:
Input Tax Credit (ITC) allows businesses to claim
credit for the tax paid on purchases of goods or services that are used for
their business activities. This credit can be set off against the output tax
liability, i.e., the tax collected on sales of goods or services.
Benefits of ITC:
- Reduction
in Tax Burden: Businesses can offset the taxes paid on inputs (goods
and services) against their output tax liability, leading to a reduction
in overall tax burden.
- Improvement
in Cash Flow: By utilizing ITC, businesses reduce the cash outflow for
tax payments.
- Avoidance
of Cascading Effect: ITC helps to eliminate the cascading effect (tax
on tax), as tax is levied only on value-added goods or services.
Question 4:
Describe the registration process under GST. Who is
required to obtain GST registration?
Answer:
Under GST, businesses must obtain GST registration if
their aggregate turnover exceeds the prescribed limit. The registration process
is as follows:
- Application
Filing: The business must file an application online through the GST
portal (www.gst.gov.in) with required
documents like PAN, Aadhaar, business address proof, and bank details.
- GSTIN
Generation: Once the application is approved, a unique GST
Identification Number (GSTIN) is generated for the business.
- Issue
of Certificate: The taxpayer is issued a GST registration certificate,
which includes details like the taxpayer’s name, GSTIN, and the type of
business activity.
Who Needs to Register:
- Businesses
with turnover above the threshold limit (Rs. 40 lakhs for goods and
Rs. 20 lakhs for services).
- Interstate
Suppliers: Businesses engaged in interstate supply of goods or
services must register, regardless of turnover.
- Casual
Taxable Persons and Non-Resident Taxable Persons are also
required to register.
Question 5:
Explain the concept of "Supply" under GST. What
are the key elements that determine whether a transaction constitutes a supply?
Answer:
Under GST, Supply refers to the sale,
transfer, barter, exchange, or any other form of supply of goods or services
for a consideration. It forms the basis of determining the taxability of
transactions under GST.
Key Elements that Determine a Supply:
- Goods
or Services: The transaction must involve either goods or services.
- Consideration:
There must be a consideration (payment or monetary value) involved in the
transaction, although certain supplies are taxable even without
consideration (e.g., gifts).
- Location:
The supply should be within the scope of GST, considering the place of
supply rules.
- Nature
of Supply: Whether the transaction is a taxable supply (liable to GST)
or exempt supply (not liable to GST).
- Supplier:
The person or entity making the supply must be a registered taxable person
under GST.
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