GST collections dip to 19-month low of Rs 91,916 crore in September
New Delhi, Oct 1: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections dropped sharply to a 19-month low of Rs 91,916 crore in September, mirroring a widening slowdown in economy triggered by shrinking consumer demand.
This is the second straight month of decline in the GST collections, according to official data released by the finance ministry.
The tax collections at Rs 91,916 crore in September was lower than Rs 98,202 crore collected in August and Rs 94,442 crore mop-up in the same month a year back.
GST, which from July 1, 2017, amalgamated 17 different central and state levies, including excise duty, service tax and VAT, is a reflection of economic activity and a decline in collections indicates a downturn.
Experts, however, hoped for an upturn in October on the back of increased demand during the festival season.
Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian said the cut in corporate tax rate will foster investment, and as a result that should take care of the GST collections target.
He expressed hope that the collections will improve in the coming months.
When asked about how the government will bridge the revenue shortfall of Rs 1.45 lakh crore due to corporate tax cut, he said the emphasis would be on many other sources of revenue, including disinvestment, to ensure the targets that we have set are met.
"There is clearly an urgency to try and ensure that the plans on disinvestment we have are adhered to and we will stick to the target (Rs 1.05 lakh crore) we have set," he said.
The gross GST collections comprised of Rs 16,630 crore collection through Central-GST (CGST), Rs 22,598 crore in State-GST and Rs 45,069 crore through Integrated-GST (IGST). As much as Rs 7,620 crore was collected as cess levied on luxury and sin goods.
"The revenue during September 2019 declined by 2.67 per cent in comparison to the revenue during September 2018. During April-September, 2019 vis-a-vis 2018, the domestic component has grown by 7.82 per cent while the GST on imports has shown negative growth and the total collection has grown by 4.90 per cent," the statement said.
India's GDP slowed to more than six-year low of 5 per cent in April-June, prompting the government to take an array of steps to boost the economy, including a steepest ever cut in corporate tax rate which would cost Rs 1.45 lakh crore.
During April-September, the GST collections totalled Rs 6.06 lakh crore. In comparison, tax collections in the same period of the previous fiscal were Rs 5.78 lakh crore.
Abhishek Jain, Tax Partner, EY India, said: "With the recently announced fiscal and economic measures coupled with the upcoming festive season, the demand and related GST collections may witness an increase in the coming months. Stricter controls on tax evasion and audits by the revenue authorities may also help in improving the collections".
M S Mani, Partner, Deloitte India: "The lower collections seem to be on account of the lower GDP growth numbers that we have seen as GST is a transaction tax that is immediately impacted by any decline in any economic activity. However, the subsequent festival season is expected to improve collections".
The finance ministry said returns filed for August were 75.94 lakh. Returns filed during September would be known by end of this month.
Also, the government has settled Rs 21,131 crore to CGST and Rs 15,121 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement. The total revenue earned by the central government and the state governments after regular settlement in September 2019 is Rs 37,761 crore for CGST and Rs 37,719 crore for the SGST, the statement said.
Niraj Bagri, Partner, Dhruva Advisors said: "The September month GST collections of Rs 91,916 crores is a significant drop if one compares the last few months data. This could indicate a reduction in economic activities. With the announcement of income tax reforms, any further dip in GST collections would be a cause of concern for the government".
Parag Mehta, Partner, N A Shah Associates LLP said GST collections in September are a cause of concern. "It indicates a major economic downturn. Hopefully, the recent amendments in income tax act and decisions taken in 37th GST council meeting reducing rates and other measures to turnaround the economy should show results in the next two months. Further, with festive seasons setting it should revive the economy".
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Stalin accuses Centre of trying to use women's quota as 'weapon,' slams EPS over delimitation
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population.
"The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview.
"Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added.
Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, the CM said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami over the delimitation issue.
Recalling efforts made by the DMK to raise the issue of population-based delimitation, he said an all-party meeting and a meeting of CMs under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee seeking fair delimitation were convened. It sought to freeze delimitation for 25 years and stick to it based on the 1971 Census population.
"We urged the union government that states which successfully implemented population control programmes must not be punished," he added.
The party came up with "Tamil Nadu poradum, Tamil Nadu vellum" (Tamil Nadu will struggle, Tamil Nadu will win) and this is DMK's stand, he said.
"However, Palaniswami, who is seeking votes for the entry of the BJP through the backdoor, has till date been mute over delimitation, and this is a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu."
