GST launched in India: A look at tax rates and how it will impact your basic expenses

The GST is meant to boost growth and scrap local taxes that add to overhead costs and stymie businesses.

In the making since 2000, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) comes into effect from July 1.

The 5% GST rate on apparel priced below Rs1,000 is expected give a fillip to the value fashion business. Post GST, the entire value chain—raw material to the finished product—will come under the tax net. (AFP File)

Touted by the government as the biggest tax reform since Independence, the GST is meant to boost growth and scrap local taxes that add to overhead costs and stymie businesses.

In these 17 long years, GST has undergone several conceptual changes to finally emerge as a multi-rate tax structure, which economists believe will undermine the advantages that a simple-structured, uniform indirect tax would have affected.

Foodgrains, cereals and vegetables have been zero rated under GST, other rate slabs are 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. A cess will also be added to certain sin and luxury products.

Here is a look at the different tax rates and how it might impact you:

Current effective tax rate includes central excise duty, VAT and all various local levies.
* This is the cess that will be applicable on cars