Decision on GST on Ocean Freight Co-operative Federalism

India is a federal country, and the states have their own power and jurisdiction. The GST council has been set up to ensure that the states and the central government work together in a cooperative manner to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and to make decisions that impact the economic growth of the country.

One of the decisions taken by the GST council was regarding the levy of GST on Ocean Freight. In this article, we will discuss this decision and its implications on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startup founders.

What is Ocean Freight?

Ocean Freight refers to the charges levied by shipping companies for the transportation of goods from one port to another. It is an important aspect of international trade and plays a crucial role in the global supply chain.

Earlier, the Ocean Freight charges were exempted from the purview of GST. However, in its 20th meeting, the GST council decided to levy GST on Ocean Freight. The GST rate on Ocean Freight is currently set at 5%.

What is Co-operative Federalism?

Co-operative Federalism is a concept that refers to the collaboration between the central government and the state governments to achieve a common goal. It ensures that both the central and state governments work together in a cooperative manner to promote economic growth and development.

The concept of Co-operative Federalism is of great significance in the implementation of GST as it is a new tax system that requires the cooperation of both the central and state governments. The GST council has been set up to ensure that the states and the central government work together to implement the GST in a smooth and efficient manner.

Decision on GST on Ocean Freight

In its 20th meeting, the GST council decided to levy GST on Ocean Freight. The decision was taken with the objective of providing a level playing field to the domestic shipping industry and to ensure that the Indian shipping industry becomes more competitive in the global market.

The decision to levy GST on Ocean Freight has been a subject of debate among the stakeholders. The SMEs and startup founders have raised concerns about the increased cost of transportation, which may affect their profit margins.

However, the government has assured that the decision to levy GST on Ocean Freight will have a positive impact on the Indian shipping industry in the long run as it will promote domestic shipping and make it more competitive in the global market.

Implications on SMEs and Startup Founders

The decision to levy GST on Ocean Freight is expected to increase the cost of transportation for SMEs and startup founders. This may have a negative impact on their profit margins and may affect their ability to compete in the global market.

However, the government has taken several measures to mitigate the impact of GST on SMEs and startup founders. The GST council has lowered the GST rate on several goods and services, which will benefit the SMEs and startup founders.

The government has also introduced the composition scheme, which is a simpler and easier tax system for SMEs and startup founders with a turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore. Under the composition scheme, SMEs and startup founders can pay a fixed percentage of their turnover as tax and file their returns on a quarterly basis.

Conclusion

The decision to levy GST on Ocean Freight is a step towards promoting domestic shipping and making it more competitive in the global market. While there may be some short-term impact on SMEs and startup founders, the long-term benefits of this decision cannot be ignored.

The government has taken several measures to mitigate the impact of GST on SMEs and startup founders. It is important for SMEs and startup founders to understand the implications of GST on their business and take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the GST regulations.