GST rates cut: Washing machines to sanitary napkins, what gets cheaper

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Saturday cut tax rates on a long list of items ranging from air conditioners and refrigerators to batteries used in mobile phones, delivering a big boost to the consumer economy.

The GST Council on Saturday cut tax rates on 88 items, including footwear, refrigerator, washing machine and small screen TV, while the widely demanded sanitary napkins have been exempted from the levy.

The move to cut tax rates on items of mass consumption comes ahead of the next round of assembly elections in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh towards the end of the year and national polls in 2019. (Pradeep Gaur/ Mint File Photo)

The highest tax bracket of 28 per cent has been rationalised further with rates on daily-use items like perfumes, cosmetics, toiletries, hair dryers, shavers, mixer grinder, vacuum cleaners, lithium ion batteries, being lowered to 18 per cent. The revised tax rates will come into effect from July 27.

A look at the items that got cheaper.

GST on commodities slashed to 0%:

Sanitary Napkins

Supply of services by old-age homes

GST on commodities slashed from 28% to 18%:

Refrigerators

Water Heaters

Washing Machines

Televisions (up to 68 cm)

Vacuum Cleaners

Paints

Hair Shavers

Hair Curlers

Hair Dryers

Scent Sprays

Lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones and electric vehicles

GST on commodities slashed from 18% to 12%:

Handbags including pouches and purses; jewellery box

Wooden frames for painting, photographs, mirrors etc

Ornamental framed mirrors

Brass Kerosene Pressure Stove

Art ware of iron

GST on commodities at 5%:

Ethanol

Solid biofuel pellets

Handmade carpets and other handmade textile floor coverings (including namda/gabba)

Hand-made braids and ornamental trimming in the piece