Tag: union finance minister nirmala sitharaman

No change in GST on vaccines, but tax cut for other Covid essentials

Saturday, June 12, 2021
In its 44th meeting today(12th June 2021), the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved all recommendations of GoM on rate rationalisation. The GoM, set up by the Council on May 28, was mandated to look at tax exemption and concessions on various Covid items including vaccines, drugs, and equipment. GST on ambulances has been reduced to 12% from the current 28%. GST Council slashed the tax rate from 12% to 5% on medical grade oxygen, BiPaP machines, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, hand sanitisers, temperature check equipment, high flow nasal cannula, pulse oximeter. Also, the tax on Covid testing kits has been brought down to 5% from 12%. "Today's meeting was a single-agenda meeting on the Group of Ministers which was constituted in last GST Council meeting to come up with recommendations on tax relief for Covid-19 essentials," said Finance Minister. Read more