GST Council to Study 18% GST on Sub-₹2,000 Transactions via Payment Apps in India

 

The GST Council of India is set to undertake a comprehensive review of the proposed 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on transactions under ₹2,000 conducted through digital payment apps. This decision has sparked significant debate among stakeholders, including small businesses, consumers, and payment service providers.

The proposed tax, if implemented, would apply to microtransactions, which are typically less than ₹2,000 and conducted through popular digital payment platforms. The rationale behind this move is to broaden the tax base and capture revenue from the rapidly growing digital payments sector. Currently, many of these low-value transactions escape taxation due to the threshold limits set by the GST regulations.

Critics argue that imposing an 18% GST on small transactions could disproportionately impact low-income individuals and small businesses that rely heavily on digital payments. They fear that the increased tax burden might lead to higher costs for consumers and discourage the use of digital payment methods, which the government has been promoting for their convenience and transparency.