Preparing the way for a modern GST in India

Abstract

A modern Goods and Services Tax (GST) would do much to alleviate the problems of India’s current indirect tax system which is a serious impediment to the formation of a single common market and further economic growth. The Centre and the States should both have access to the full GST base, which means that the tax assignment issue (who should tax what?) should be separated from GST design aspects (what should be the precise base and rate structure?). It is not necessary or desirable to have a uniform GST for the Centre and the States. Neither is an integrated GST to tax transactions between States required. Last but not least, the system of taxation by classification and valuation should be replaced by a self-assessment system mainly monitored through checks upon books of account.