Anti Profiteering In GSTGoods & Services Tax (GST) in IndiaAnti Profiteering Incorporated in Revised Model GST Act,2016

November 27, 20160
Anti Profiteering in GST Incorporated in Revised Model GST Act,2016
Finally , anti profiteering in GST will become a reality in lieu of Section 163 incorporated under the Revised Model GST Act,2016.  It must be known that the GST Council secretariat has issued the revised model GST Act,2016 through CBEC on 25.11.2016.
Section 163. Anti-profiteering Measure
(1) The Central Government may by law constitute an Authority, or entrust an existing Authority constituted under any law, to examine whether input tax credits availed by any registered taxable person or the reduction in the price on account of any reduction in the tax rate have actually resulted in a commensurate reduction in the price of the said goods and/or services supplied by him.
(2) The Authority referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise such functions and have such powers, including those for imposition of penalty, as may be prescribed in cases where it finds that the price being charged has not been reduced as aforesaid.
 
Why Anti Profiteering Measure ?
Anti profiteering in GST
Anti profiteering in GST
The existing rate structure of excei, vat etc results into levy of  higher taxes on various products. Whereas, after GST , certain products will see reduction in prices upto 10% .
Hence, the Central Government wants  to ensure that traders do not take advantage by using GST as an excuse to raise the price of goods for the purpose of making excessive profits.
Rather, such reduction of cost should be passed over to the consumer.This will be sole intention to have an inbuilt anti profiteering clause in GST under GST Act,2016.
What Finance Minister Hinted In Past for anti profiteering in GST ?
Oflate, the Finance Minister had hinted that anti profiteering in GST  shall be incorporated under GST Act.
Companies should be able to save on logistics, protect themselves better from imports and optimise operations, all of which should lead to reduced prices. In the long run, the tax rate will come down and with that, the price of many goods”. 

Currently, what the taxpayers are paying is phenomenally much higher. For almost 60-70% of the commodities on a weighted average, you are paying 27% plus a large number of other small taxes”

                                                                     ( Source Economic Times)   
With the given background he has also aired that such reduced prices should be passed over to the consumer.
Anti Profiteering in Malaysia
 The concept of anti profiteering in GST already exists in Malaysia. There is  Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, in Malaysia which is enforced by way of National Price Council.
 
It releases Shopper’s Guide and also results to fix a benchmark prices i.e it acts as price setter.
 
They have an inbuilt provision for imposition of heavier fines and penalties for those traders which fail to comply such requirement of price.
 
How is the government going to control prices with anti profiteering clause?
  1. It will be validated by way of enactment of separate Act as well as constitution of a specific administrative authority to implement such a law .
  2. Enactment of laws at par with Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 of Malaysia.
  3. Setting up of ministries like the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives as well as Consumerism to monitor, control and take action on any price increase due to excessive profiteering .
  4. The Government will undertake various measures to ensure savings by the businesses is ultimately passed on to the consumers.
  5. creation of Shoppers’ Guide, as well as making the hypermarkets act as price setters.
  6. incorporating provision for heavier fines and penalties for the traders who fail to follow such provisions .
  7. Hypermarkets and Supermarkets like Big Bazaar , Reliance Retail etc will play a big role as price setters of various goods.
 
Conclusion
 
This will result into various unforeseen litigation and cost auditing cannot be ruled out for various products.
 
Companies should cautiously  revisit their costing strategy so that unwanted disputes can be prevented.
 
Since, hypermarkets and supermarkets will play an eminent role for setting price benchmark so the organised sector will see various considerations as well.
( Copyright content of AMLEGALS. Any attempt to copy in any manner shall  result into copyright infringement and legal action resultant thereto.)

by Anandaday Misshra, Founder Advocate , AMLEGALS 
( The author is one of the leading litigation and advisory advocate.  He is an eminent speaker and author on various laws including GST. He handles cases in various Tribunals  & High Courts of India. He can be contacted on anand@amlegals.com.
He writes on GST in Special Guest Column of Taxmann. For more, please refer www.amlegals.com )

The same shall be taken in detail in GST Seminar on 3rd December at Ahmedabad, Novotel.For more refer www.gstprofs.in or connect with gst@amlegals.com .

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