GST regime still confusing taxpayers
Multiple rates, applications make GST more complicated; Revenue Dept pushed to issue clarifications
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New Delhi: Cloud kitchens are restaurants, ice cream parlours are not. Alcoholic beverage is not food or a food products. Mineral rights are taxable, but the question remains whether these should be taxable at all.
The GST regime with five major different rates and few more for certain special products had created more confusion for taxpayers than bringing about simplicity. This confusion often results in litigation that affects both the authorities and well as taxpayers.
In order to remove some of confusion created by differential tax rates and it applications, the Revenue Department has issued a circular directed at all the operative officials giving clarifications regarding applicable GST rates and exemptions on certain services.
As per the circular, the Revenue Department had clarified that service provided by way of cooking and supply of food, by cloud kitchens/central kitchens are covered under restaurant service and hence would be subjected to same tax (5 per cent without ITC) as normal restaurants.
