GST is paying off, but not enough to meet govt’s tax collection target

GST brought in an average Rs 975.4 billion ($14.2 billion) a month in revenue, government data reported in the three months to June shows, compared with a target of nearly Rs 1.1 trillion.

One year after India introduced the goods and services tax (GST), the results have been mixed.

Hailed as one of the biggest reforms by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the goods-and-services levy has helped increase tax collections in a country where compliance is historically low.

While monthly receipts have picked up after a chaotic rollout, they are still not strong enough to meet the government’s annual tax target. GST brought in an average Rs 975.4 billion ($14.2 billion) a month in revenue, government data reported in the three months to June show, compared with a target of nearly Rs 1.1 trillion.

The government needs the revenue to keep its budget deficit in check as Modi prepares to ramp up spending on welfare programs from health to farming before general elections next year. The government has already widened its deficit goal for the current fiscal year to 3.3% of gross domestic product from 3%, putting pressure on bond yields.

The budget gap may reach 3.5% of GDP this year as GST revenue trails, Suvodeep Rakshit and Upasna Bhardwaj, analysts at Mumbai-based Kotak Mahindra Bank, said in a note on Monday.

But there may be signs of improvement. Nomura Holdings Inc. analysts say the introduction of electronic bills for transporting goods between states has led to a rise in GST collections, giving them confidence that the budget targets will be met. Finance minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday tax collections are expected to pick up during the rest of the year and the government will likely raise Rs 13 billion from GST.

Tax-to-GDP ratio touched its highest level of 11.6% last fiscal year, according to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt., a Mumbai-based business information company. This is seen rising further to 12.1% this year.

“Collections are definitely improving,” said Pratik Jain, partner and national leader for indirect tax at PwC India. “That said, it is still lower than the budget for 2018-19.”

Election goodies

Introduction of the tax last year -- with four different rates instead of the single rate adopted in countries including the UK and Singapore -- led to uncertainties because of an onerous reporting system and frequent policy changes, disrupting supply chains and in turn consumption, which acted as a drag on economic growth. Overcoming those teething problems may help lift tax collections.

“There are often teething troubles seen when a reform of this magnitude is carried out, but these issues were not only identified but also addressed in real time,” Modi said in an interview to Swarajya magazine.

But the upcoming elections pose a different threat. The number of goods and services attracting the highest rate of GST were pruned before state elections last year, and with polls due in some more states this year and for parliament in early 2019, more such tweaks can’t be ruled out. That may hurt revenue.

The government could move certain items currently attracting 28% GST to the 18% group, MS Mani, a partner overseeing GST at Deloitte India said, referring to the different tax rates, also known as slabs. The government could also merge other categories in a couple of years.

While introduction of GST promised predictability and stability by replacing about a dozen federal and state levies to make India a single market, there’s room for improvement.

“India is little far away for moving to a single rate slab for GST compared to advanced economies such as Singapore and Australia,” Mani said. “Indian conditions are diverse and it is home to poorest of poor and richest of richest making it difficult for a single rate slab in the near future.”