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Taxation powers of Union, States
Indian constitution has divided the taxing powers as well as the spending powers (and responsibilities) between the Union and the state governments.
Indian constitution has divided the taxing powers as well as the spending powers (and responsibilities) between the Union and the state governments. The subjects on which Union or State or both can levy taxes are defined in the 7th schedule of the constitution. Further, limited financial powers have been given to the local governments also as per 73rd and 74th amendments of the constitution and enshrined in Part IX and IX-A of the constitution.
Since the taxing abilities of the states are not necessarily commensurate with their spending responsibilities, some of the Centre’s revenues need to be assigned to the state governments. The Constitution provides for the formation of a Finance Commission (FC) by President of India, every five years, or any such earlier period which the President deems necessary via Article 280. Based on the report of the Finance Commission, the central taxes are devolved to the state governments.
The Union government is responsible for issues that usually concern the country as a whole, for example national defence, foreign policy, railways, national highways, shipping, airways, post and telegraphs, foreign trade and banking. The state governments are responsible for other items including, law and order, agriculture, fisheries, water supply and irrigation, and public health.
Some items for which responsibility vests in both the Centre and the states include forests, economic and social planning, education, trade unions and industrial disputes, price control and electricity. Then, there is devolution of some powers to local governments at the city, town and village levels. The taxing powers of the central government encompass taxes on income (except agricultural income), excise on goods produced (other than alcohol), customs duties, and inter-state sale of goods.
The state governments are vested with the power to tax agricultural income, land and buildings, sale of goods (other than inter-state), and excise on alcohol. Local authorities such as Panchayat and Municipality also have power to levy some minor taxes. Article 265 of the Constitution which states that “No tax shall be levied or collected except by the authority of law.” This means that no tax can be levied if it is not backed by a legislation passed by either Parliament or the State Legislature.
(Courtesy: gkstudy.in; for detailed article visit https://academy. gktoday.in/article/taxation-powers-of-union-and-states-in-india/)
