GST – storyboard18

IMS rollout could curtail festive sales opportunity for retailers: Empower India

Indian retailer (Image: Unsplash)

The primary objective of the IMS is to streamline the input tax credit (ITC) claim process. However, according to Empower India, the lack of preparation will not only increase the compliance burden but also impede the efficient deployment of the capital

Indian beverage industry urges GST rate cut to boost sector growth

For carbonated drinks, which are taxed at 28% with an additional 12% cess, the industry has requested a reclassification.

Industry leaders call for rationalisation of GST on bottled water, fruit juices, and carbonated drinks, citing high taxes as a hurdle to growth and consumer affordability.

DGGI will shake hands with foreign govts to crack whip on offshore gambling firms

The DGGI Annual Report states that actions have been taken against 118 domestic online gaming companies, with Show Cause Notices issued to 34 taxpayers, involving tax amounts of Rs 1,10,531.91 crore.

This move will curb tax evasion in the online ‘gaming’ sector in India and will also help block websites of such notorious illegal offshore entities.

Online gaming industry faces potential 50 percent revenue drop after 6 months of 28 percent GST implementation

In addition to the basic rate of 30 percent, a health and education cess at the rate of 4 percent of the amount of tax is levied. Thus the effective tax rate on lottery winnings comes up to 31.2 percent. (Image sourced via Unsplash)

To weather the storm of a significant revenue drop in the financials for the last six months, among other cost cutting measures, online gaming companies are slashing marketing expenses by over half.

The silver lining of 28 percent GST on gaming: crackdown on offshore betting firms

The illegal offshore betting industry will continue to grow at 20% at the least, leading to a tax loss figure of Rs 6,72,205 crore by 2026.

The government has mandated these entities to officially register within the country, ensuring transparency and adherence to the higher GST levy.

GST Council decision on online gaming: Industry voices concerns and hopes for future review

The Supreme Court recently stayed the Karnataka High Court's judgment that had quashed the GST department's show-cause notice to Gameskraft in May 2023. (Representative image by Michał Parzuchowski via Unsplash)

While re-strategising business models might be an option for the larger players, for the smaller online gaming enterprises, the weight of taxation could prove to be insurmountable as per stakeholders.

GST Council’s meeting today: What’s at stake for online gaming industry

Structural shifts toward a higher propensity to pay for in-game features and the burgeoning popularity of casual and midcore games are poised to play pivotal roles in shaping the landscape by FY28. (Representative Image via Unsplash)

The gaming industry is hopeful that the government will consider their concerns and arrive at a fair and sustainable decision for the valuation of GST on online gaming platforms.