GST regime likely to stabilise in next 18 months: Rajiv Kumar

26 Dec 2017 Evaluate

NITI Aayog’s vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar has said that a nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime is likely to stabilise in the next 18 months. He also said that there is scope for further rationalisation of tax rate under GST into three slabs of 0, 12 and 28 percent, from five at present. Emphasizing on the need to formalise the Indian economy, he said that this will encourage tax compliance from the existing levels of 40-43 percent to 90 percent.

Rajiv Kumar has stated that to expect one tax rate under new tax regime was impractical, given the size of the country which is equal to all European nations from Moscow to London put together. He also said that there are varied cultures and business ethics followed by different states, and hence it is not feasible to have one tax rate under GST. Therefore, he said that it was necessary to have those multiple rates. Adding further, he said that it will be a huge step forward if petroleum products are brought under the GST ambit, about which Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had recently spoken in the Rajya Sabha.

Talking on the demonetisation move, the vice chairman has said that the government may not have been able to convert all black money into white, but it has converted black money into grey. He also believes that the Rs 4.5 lakh crore that has returned into the banking system on account of demonetisation will also be acted upon.

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