GST Council Agrees To Decriminalise Certain Offences, No New Taxes Brought

No new taxes have been brought, Nirmala Sitharaman said in the deliberations at the GST Council's 48th meeting.

The GST Council on Saturday agreed to decriminalise certain offences and doubled the threshold for launching prosecution to Rs 2 crore, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra said.

The Council could decide on only 8 out of the 15 agenda items due to paucity of time, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, adding the items not considered included one pertaining to setting up of appellate tribunals for GST.

The issue of mechanisms to curb tax evasion in pan masala and gutkha businesses also could not be taken up.

No new taxes have been brought, Ms Sitharaman said in the deliberations at the GST Council's 48th meeting.