Fact Check: No, GST Council has NOT imposed 18% GST on crematorium services

A tweet has gone viral claiming "You cannot die without paying 18 per cent GST for a crematorium.” However, the tax rate applies to work contracts inside crematoriums.

If social media posts are to be believed, even death might now be a costly affair in India. A tweet that was widely shared criticised the Goods and Services Tax, claiming, “You cannot die without paying 18 per cent GST for a crematorium.”

The tweet contained a postcard featuring the photo of the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman. It also listed a number of goods and services and the corresponding tax levied on them.

Achea Din For #ModiGovt and @nsitharaman be like.You cannot die without paying 18% GST for Crematorium.Not letting to die peacefully too is a sign of Achea Din? pic.twitter.com/cir2t9iFmC

AFWA’s investigation found that there is no 18 per cent GST on crematorium services. However, the same tax rate applies to work contracts inside crematoriums.

A PIB press release issued on June 29 states that the GST Council approved 18 per cent GST on “works contract for roads, bridges, railways, metro, effluent treatment plant, crematorium etc.”