Given the yawning gap between the existing tax rate and the maximum that can be levied under GST (28%), the shifting of fuels to the new regime is impractical In a recent discussion with economists and industry experts on transition of energy products into the Goods and Services Tax (GST),NITI Aayog proposed a formula for bringing two motor fuels, petrol and diesel, besides electricity under the new regime. Under it, the Centre could keep the two fuels in the highest slab of 28 per cent and electricity in the 18 per cent slab. To compensate states for the loss of revenue resulting from the shift to the GST dispensation – fully in case of electricity and partially for petrol and...
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Category: Economic outlook
Fuels under GST – unthinkable
In a recent discussion on transition of energy products into the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with economists and industry experts, NITI Aayog has proposed a formula for bringing two motor fuels viz. petrol and diesel besides electricity under the new regime. Under it, the Centre could keep the two fuels in the highest slab of 28% and electricity in the 18% slab. To compensate states for the loss of revenue resulting from the shift to the GST dispensation – fully in case of electricity and partially for petrol and diesel – the think-tank has proposed levying a cess @50%. To understand the formula, and its implications, at the outset, it is important to place a few basic facts. First,...
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Taxing MNCs: G-7 formula is flawed
The agreement reached by the finance ministers of the advanced economies at the G-7 meeting on taxing MNCs stands on two main pillars: one, a global minimum corporate tax (GMCT) rate of 15%, and two, “reaching an equitable solution on the allocation of taxing rights, with market countries awarded taxing rights on at least 20% of profit exceeding a 10% margin for the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises.” Concurrently, efforts are to be made for the removal of all Digital Services Taxes (DST) imposed on these companies by several countries. The move is prompted by MNCs registering in low-tax jurisdictions such as the Netherlands, Ireland and Luxembourg, and showing all their revenues and profits in those jurisdictions regardless of...
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Bank NPAs — the inevitable monster
A loan taken with the sole intention of siphoning off funds for personal gains is bound to irreversibly damage the bank’s image According to a statement by the Minister of State for Finance, Bhagwat K Karad, in Parliament, non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans of banks declined from a high of around Rs 1036,000 crore as on March 31, 2018, to Rs 896,000 crore on March 31, 2020, and further down to Rs 834,000 crore on March 31, 2021. The choice of March 31, 2018 has special significance. Under the UPA, particularly during its second tenure 2009-2014, banks recklessly gave loans to corporate houses and businesses without assessing the viability of the projects and conducting due diligence. The ability of...
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NPAs – the inevitable monster
According to a statement by the Minister of State for Finance, Bhagwat K Karad in the Parliament, non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans of banks declined from a high of around Rs 1036,000 crore as on March 31, 2018 to Rs 896,000 crore on March 31, 2020 and further down to Rs 834,000 crore on March 31, 2021. For comparison purpose, the choice of March 31, 2018 has special significance. Under the erstwhile UPA – dispensation particularly during its second consecutive tenure 2009-2014, banks recklessly gave loans to corporate houses/businesses without assessing the viability of the projects and conducting due diligence. The ability of the concerned projects/businesses to generate required cash to service the loans was in doubt from the...
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FDI in retail: Clear the maze
The government should legitimise direct selling by foreign companies in Indian retail without any riders In the backdrop of complaints by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) regarding violation of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy by global e-commerce players, Amazon and Walmart-owned-Flipkart etc, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has proposed a set of new rules called Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules, 2020 which the government proposes to implement after factoring in the views of all stakeholders. The rules require all e-commerce entities that are not established in India, but intending to operate here: (i) register with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the Commerce Ministry; (ii) bar affiliated entities from selling on e-commerce platform...
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Tackling the fiscal slippages: Any takers?
The way the Govt executes its revenue plans with scant regard for accountability, it is unlikely that it will correct the imbalance between revenue receipts and expenditure For several years, the Narendra Modi government has faced a high fiscal deficit. The unusually high FD of 9.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product during 2020-21 as per the revised estimate is attributed to the devastating effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on economic activity. However, even when there was no aberration, like in 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20, the fiscal deficit was in the 5.5 to six per cent range- significantly higher than the targets set for those years. This is because, in respect of both expenditure and revenue, the government of the day...
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Tackling fiscal slippages – any takers
For several years, Modi – Government has faced high fiscal deficit (FD) – excess of its total expenditure over total revenue. While, an unusually high FD of 9.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) during 2020-21 as per revised estimate (RE) is attributed to the devastating effect of Corona pandemic on economic activity, even during the earlier years viz. 2017-18/2018-19/2019-20 which were free from such an aberration, the FD was in the 5.5% – 6% range (these numbers capture the effect of off-budget liabilities unlike the official figures which don’t) – significantly higher than the targets set for the years. This in turn, is because in respect of both the expenditure and the revenue, the government of the day never lived...
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FDI in retail: Remove the smokescreen
A pragmatic approach would be one wherein the Modi Govt legitimises direct selling by foreign companies in Indian retail in all forms For the last couple of years, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) was complaining about a blatant violation of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) by global e-commerce players like Amazon and Walmart-owned-Flipkart, etc. Addressing their concerns, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries in December 2020 asked the Reserve Bank of India and the Enforcement Directorate to take action against these global giants. Earlier this year, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal promised to ensure that the e-commerce sector works “in the true spirit of the law”. As a follow-up, the Ministry of Consumer...
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Taxing MNCs — G-7 formula is erroneous
The source country should have the freedom to decide the tax rate it deems fit in sync with its policy imperatives The agreement reached by the Finance Ministers of advanced economies at the G-7 meeting on taxing MNCs stands on two main pillars, viz., a global minimum corporate tax (GMCT) rate of 15 per cent and secondly, “reaching an equitable solution on the allocation of taxing rights, with market countries awarded taxing rights on at least 20 per cent of profit exceeding a 10 per cent margin for the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises”. They also agreed that while coordinating international taxation rules around these two pillars, concurrent efforts will be made for the removal of all Digital Services...
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