Understanding Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Jul 22, 2024

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Introduction

  • What is GST: An indirect tax levied under a single tax system in India. It replaced taxes like sales tax, VAT, entertainment tax, etc., with a single tax.
  • Launch: Introduced on July 1, 2017.
  • One Nation One Tax: A single tax from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Types of GST

  • CGST (Central GST): Goes to the central government.
  • SGST (State GST): Goes to the state government.
  • IGST (Integrated GST): Applied to interstate transactions.

GST from Firm and Business Point of View

  • Input GST: GST that a firm has to pay when purchasing goods. Also known as Input GST or GST Paid.
  • Output GST: GST collected by a firm when selling goods.

GST Formula

  • GST Payable:
    • Formula: Output GST - Input GST
    • If Output GST is higher, GST Payable will be due.
    • If Input GST is higher, GST credit will be given.
  • GST Credit:
    • Formula: Input GST - Output GST
    • If Input GST is higher, it is considered GST Credit.

How GST is Applied Like an IDE

  • Intra-State Transaction: Both CGST and SGST are applied.
  • Inter-State Transaction: IGST is applied.

Consumer's Point of View

  • Price Including GST (PI GST):
    • Formula: Taxable Value * (100+GST%) / 100
    • This is the price the consumer pays.
  • GST Calculation:
    • Both CGST and SGST are applied 50-50%.

Calculation Examples

  1. Example 1

    • Cost Price: 1,00,000
    • GST Rate: 18%
    • Input GST = 18% of 1,00,000 = 18,000
    • Output GST = 18% of 2,00,000 = 36,000
    • GST Payable = 36,000 - 18,000 = 18,000
  2. Example 2

    • Cloth worth 1,00,000, 10% discount = Taxable Value of 90,000
    • GST = 18% of 90,000 = 16,200
    • Price Including GST = Taxable Value + GST = 90,000 + 16,200 = 1,06,200

Conclusion

  • By understanding GST properly, one can easily solve tax-related issues.
  • In most cases, the consumer ultimately bears the GST burden.
  • Practice makes solving questions easier.