GST cess on luxury cars hiked; 30 items cheaper

Hyderabad: Mid-sized and luxury cars as also SUVs will cost more after the GST Council on Saturday decided to levy an additional two to seven per cent cess on them but exempted small and hybrid cars from any hike.

The council met for the second time since the implementation of the new regime and lowered tax rates for 30 daily-use items including idli-dosa batter, dried tamarind, custard power, kitchen gas lighters and brooms and brushes.

Computer monitors, oil cakes, dhoop batti, dhoop, plastic raincoats, rubber bands and rice rubber rolls for paddy de-husking will also cost less.

The deadline for filing of sales return or GSTR-1 for July, the first month of implementation of the new tax regime, was also extended by a month to October 10.

After the eight-hour meeting, finance minister Arun Jaitley said the overall GST collections have been robust with over 70 per cent of eligible taxpayers filing returns of about Rs 95,000 crore.

He said a two per cent additional cess will be levied on mid-sized cars, five per cent on large cars and seven per cent on SUVs, taking the total incidence of taxation to pre-GST levels.

“Cess on cars with seating capacity above 10 but up to 13 as well as hybrid cars will remain unchanged,” he said.