The Cabinet today approved amendments to the GST bill to compensate states for revenue loss for five years on introduction of the uniform nationwide indirect tax regime, as has been suggested by Rajya Sabha Select Committee.
The Cabinet decided that the modalities for levy of 1 per cent tax over and above the GST rate by states as well as the 'band' rate would be finalised while framing the rules, sources said.
The Rajya Sabha Select panel, headed by BJP's Bhupender Yadav, in its report last week suggested GST rate to be no more than 20 per cent and levy of 1 per cent additional tax by states only on actual sales and not on inter-company stock or inventory transfer.
The Constitution Amendment Bill for a Goods and Service Tax (GST), to replace all indirect taxes like excise and sales tax on all products, except alcohol, has already been passed by the Lok Sabha and is pending passage in the Upper House.
The amendment approved by the Cabinet on compensation seeks to give an assurance to states for making up for revenue loss they may suffer in first five years of introduction of GST.
Government plans to roll out GST from April 1, 2016, a very tight schedule considering the fact that the Bill has to be approved by Rajya Sabha and half of the 30 states.
As per the current mechanism, the Centre will give 100 per cent compensation for first three years of implementation of GST and 75 per cent and 50 per cent in the fourth and the fifth year.
Being touted as the biggest reform in indirect taxation since Independence, the GST will ensure a single tax structure for goods and service throughout the country and make India a common market.
The new indirect tax regime will subsume excise, service tax and other local levies.