New Delhi: Many states have requested extension of the compensation mechanism under the GST beyond June 2022, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law, states were guaranteed to be compensated bi-monthly for any loss of revenue in the first five years of GST implementation from July 1, 2017.
The shortfall is calculated assuming a 14 percent annual growth in GST collections by states over the base year of 2015-16. The 5-year period ends in June 2022. The compensation amount to be paid from the compensation fund is arrived at by levying cess on top of the highest tax slab on luxury, demerit and sin goods.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the central government is committed to giving GST compensation to states/UTs for 5 years as per the Constitutional provision. To a query whether the government has received proposals from state governments requesting extension of compensation mechanism for another five years in view of difficulties caused by the pandemic, she said "Yes Sir. Many states have requested for extension of the compensation period during the deliberations in GST Council and in letters addressed to the central government".