Tax on white Goods,Cement to be reduced

New Delhi Nov 20: In a move to give relief to women the GST Council may reduce the tax rates on white goods such as washing machines, AC, Refrigerators,Televisions etc. Currently, these items are in 28 % tax bracket and cost high.

Sources said that the government may reduce the tax rates because industry experts suggested that the demand in this sector has dropped and the sales were low because of tax rates.

Government also hopes that reduction in tax would help women because these goods would reduce their workload. Recently the government has cut the tax rates on 178 items and brought them to 18 %.

The GST council may also reduce the tax rates on cement so that the burden on construction sector would be reduced but the decision may be deferred as the revenue collections would be hit.

Sources said that the government may also reduce the tax rates on food items to 5 % and may merge 12 % and 18 % tax rates into single slab .currently there are 50 items which are taxed at 28 % such as sin goods and luxury goods.