Kerala assembly passes resolution against uniform GST for lotteries, deadlock in GoM over lottery tax rate

The Kerala legislative assembly passed a unanimous resolution urging the Central Government 🅰to withdraw the moꦇve to bring uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on state-run lottery and other state lotteries.

As per , the legislative ass🥀embly passed the resolution moved by state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac after a discussion over it on the f🌼loor of the House.

“The Centre’s move is to reduce the tax on lotteries ru💖n by intermediaries and bring it on par with the state-run lotteries. This will affect thousands of lottery agents and sellers in Kerala.

This move will afඣfect the tax revenue of the state, as well as the Centre,” Isaac said.

Currently, 12% GST is being charged on lotteries sold by state governments directly, is being levied on the fac🥂e value of lottery tickets authorised by state governments bu💧t sold through private lottery distributors.

Private lottery companies have made against 🌱this discriminatory and high rate of tax, and claimed that the taxation structure would cripple and destroy their business.

In a related development, it has been reported that the headed by Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungant😼iwar, that had been tasked by the GST Council to study the differential tax rates on lotteries, has so far, failed in its efforts to recommend a uniform tax rate for lotteries.

According to , the panel failed to reach a consensus after representatives of West Bengal and Kerala opposed 🧔 ꧟the idea, citing loss to state governments.

The GST Council is slated to discuss the issue on 21st June, although a decision on the issue is unlikely, gℱiven the lack of consensus on the issue.

Read more about – Taxes, prices and prizes.