GST Council Meeting Attended by Union Finance Minister and State Representatives to Discuss Curbing Tax Evasion in Pan Masala and Gutkha Business

The Union Finance Minister, along with Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, and finance ministers from various states and Union Territories with legislature, and senior officers from the Union government and states, attended the 49th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council. The meeting was confirmed by the finance ministry's official handle @FinMinIndia.

The meeting was attended by officials from both the Centre and state governments. It is expected that the council will discuss setting up appellate tribunals and mechanisms to prevent tax evasion in the pan masala and gutkha business.

However, the much-awaited report by the Group of Ministers on online gaming and GST appellate tribunal is unlikely to be submitted during the meeting, according to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman Vivek Johri.

In the last meeting, which was held on December 17, 2022, through video conference, the GST Council had recommended decriminalizing three different types of offenses, including the tampering of material evidence, obstructing or preventing officers from discharging their duties, and failure to supply information. In addition, GST rates on pulses husk and knives were reduced from 5% to nil.

The Goods and Services Tax was introduced in the country on July 1, 2017, and states were assured compensation for any revenue loss arising from the implementation of GST for a period of five years, according to the provisions of the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017.