State govts threaten to adopt anti-tax reform measures if not compensated for losses

12 Jul 2012 Evaluate

Placing another hurdle in the way of goods and services tax (GST) implementation, different state governments have threatened that they might adopt anti-tax reform measures if compensation for phasing out central sales tax (CST) is not paid. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, states have said that the Centre’s refusal to compensate them for revenue losses because of a reduction in CST rate can derail the introduction of GST.

Sushil Kumar Modi, chairman of the empowered committee of state finance ministers, said that states would suffer substantial revenue losses if they were not given CST compensation. He further stated that ‘I am afraid that the unilateral decision of the Government of India regarding CST compensation, without even giving an opportunity to the States to put forward their point of view as requested by them, is likely to adversely affect the process of tax reforms in the country, including the introduction of Goods and Services Tax in India.’

CST, levied on goods traded across States, has been reduced from 4 per cent to 2 per cent. As a precursor to the implementation of the GST, it was decided to phase out CST for which compensation was to be paid to the States. Earlier, the Central Government, in consultation with States, had decided to phase out CST beginning April 2007 over a period of three years. Guidelines for compensation were framed in 2007 and were revised in 2008. However, the States claim that the revised guidelines do not envisage any further non-monetary steps by them and further the Union Finance Secretary informed the Empowered Committee in February this year that 2010-11 was the last year of compensation.

Now the State governments are threatening to increase taxes or levy fresh ones if the Centre fails to compensate them for the reduction in central sales. And have said that if states are not given compensation till GST is introduced, they will suffer substantial revenue losses and may be forced to adopt tax measures that may not be in the interest of tax reform.

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