Intriguing Saga of Inverted Duty Structure in Textile Industry:

IS THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY BEING TAKEN FOR A RIDE?

-Monish Bhalla

 “Secretary to the Council stated that the meeting of the Fitment Committee had been convened to consider the deliberations/recommendations made by the Committee of Officers on Revenue Augmentation, which was set up a few months ago. He further said that the Committee of Officers on Augmentation of Revenue looked at some of the structural anomalies in the GST such as inverted tax structure which has led to distortions.” – 39th GST Council Meeting -14th March 2020

“Inverted structure has been acting as detriment to the growth of textile sector and investment in the sector. The Ministry of Textiles had also recommended for correcting inverted rate structure so as to unshackle it from the burden of taxes (accumulated ITC etc.). This would increase the employment opportunities in the Textile industry and also make our exports competitive”. 

Source -JS(TRU-1) Giving the presentation to the GSTC Members

39th GST Council Meeting held on 14th March 2020 by Video Conferencing.

Secretary to the Council stated that the meeting of the Fitment Committee had been convened to consider the deliberations/recommendations made by the Committee of Officers on Revenue Augmentation, which was set up a few months ago. He further said that the Committee of Officers on Augmentation of Revenue looked at some of the structural anomalies in the GST such as inverted tax structure which has led to distortions.

Inverted structure has been acting as detriment to the growth of textile sector and investment in the sector. The Ministry of Textiles had also recommended for correcting inverted rate structure so as to unshackle it from the burden of taxes (accumulated ITC etc.). This would increase the employment opportunities in the Textile industry and also make our exports competitive”. 

During the course of the said meeting, The JS TRU informed the Members of the Council that …

the Fitment Committee proposed the following rate structure on textiles:

(a) 5% GST on cotton and other natural fibres (except raw jute, silk and wool) and all natural fibre yarns.

(b) 12% GST on manmade fibres

(c) 12% GST on MMF yarns

(d) 12% GST on all fabrics

(e) 12% GST on all garments and made-up 

(f) 12% GST on dyeing services

Interestingly, the Honorable Member from Chhattisgarh stated that the presentation did not make it clear as to what is being targeted. Is it procedure, relief to manufacturer or revenue augmentation?

The Chief Economic Adviser stated that the objective of the proposal is revenue augmentation

what was the purpose of the Committee of Officers on Augmentation of Revenue

On 10th October 2019 ,  A committee of officers was formed with a focus on Revenue Augmentation and the said panel has been formed by the GST Council to look into revenue shortfall being faced by the states post implementation of the Goods and Services Tax .The committee has been tasked with suggesting measures to boost GST collections, to make businesses comply with GST voluntarily, ways to better administrative coordination.

 The GST Council Secretariat Order dated 10th October 2019 is annexed for the sake of ready reference.

( To read complete research  article  IS THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY BEING TAKEN FOR A RIDE?

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