New Delhi: Nirmala Sitharaman made a slew of announcements after chairing the 53rd GST Council meeting here on Saturday.
The Union Finance Minister announced that biometric-based Aadhaar authentication will be introduced to check fake invoicing.
“There is going to be a rolling out of biometric-based Aadhaar authentication on an all-India basis. This will help us to combat fraudulent input tax credit claims made through fake invoices in the cases,” Sitharaman stated at a press conference.
She also spelt out a host of recommendations relating to taxation and tax exemption on services provided by Indian Railways.
The Central government was clear on bringing petrol and diese
l under GST purview, and Sitharaman left it to the states to come on board and decide GST rate on fuel.
Following are the major announcements
* GST has suggested a uniform 12% GST on all solar cookers
* Sale of Railway platform tickets, facility of retiring rooms, waiting rooms, cloakroom services, battery operated car services are now exempted from GST
* Hostels for students located outside educational institutions also exempted from GST
* Uniform rate of 12% on all milk cans, irrespective of construction material
* Uniform GST rate of 12% will be applicable on all carton boxes and cases of corrugated and non-corrugated paper or paper board
* All types of sprinklers, including fire water sprinklers, will attract 12% GST
* Biometric-based Aadhaar authentication would be rolled out on across the country
* Time limit to furnish details and returns in the form GSTR 4 to be extended from April 30 to June 30 to help small taxpayers
* Interest and penalties for demand notices issued under Section 73 of the GST Act, including cases not involving fraud, suppression or misstatements, to be waived
* Monetary limit of Rs 20 lakh for GST appellate tribunal, Rs 1 crore for High Court and Rs 2 crore for Supreme Court recommended for filing of appeals by the department to reduce litigation.