Dual GST: - Many countries in the world have a single unified GST system i.e. a single tax applicable throughout the country. However, in federal countries like Brazil and Canada, a dual GST system is prevalent whereby GST is levied by both the federal and state or provincial governments. In India, a dual GST is proposed whereby a Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and a State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) will be levied on the taxable value of every transaction of supply of goods and services.
Impact on Prices of Goods and Services:-The GST is expected to foster increased efficiencies in the economic system thereby lowering the cost of supply of goods and services. Further, in the Indian context, there is an expectation that the aggregate incidence of the dual GST will be lower than the present incidence of the multiple indirect taxes in force. Consequently, the implementation of the GST is expected to bring about, if not in the near term but in the medium to long term, a reduction in the prices of goods and services. The expectation is that the dealers would start passing on the benefit of the reduced tax incidence to the customers by way of reduced prices. As regards services, it could be that their short term prices would go up given the expectation of an increase in the tax rate from the present 10% to approximately 14% to 16%.
Benefits of Dual GST: – The Dual GST is expected to be a simple and transparent tax with one or two CGST and SGST rates. The dual GST is expected to result in:-
• Reduction in the number of taxes at the Central and State level
• Decrease in effective