GST Council Increases Cess on Cigarettes

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said initial rates were resulting in windfall gains for cigarette companies.

In view of the reduction in tax incidence on cigarettes, the GST Council on Monday raised the compensation cess rates on the demerit good.

In first 15 days of GST implementation, it was noted that the 28 percent tax rate plus compensation cess on cigarettes when translated, the impact of cascading effect had not adequately factored in, resulting in windfall gain for the cigarette companies.

Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

Now the tax rate on cigarette remains at 28 percent, the ad valorem at 5 percent with the numerical amount on each category of filtered and non-filtered cigarettes being raised to Rs 2,076 per 1,000 units, Rs 2,747 per 1,000 and Rs 3,668 per 1,000 of different categories of cigarettes.

For other cigarettes the ad valorem has been increased to 36 percent plus Rs 4,170 per 1,000 units.

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