GST Council sticks to 28% levy on online games despite pushback from some states

The GST Council did not reconsider its earlier decision to tax the face value of real-money games by 28%. For the greater tax, the council also considered the necessary legislative provision.

According to Nirmala Sitharaman, the minister of finance, the enabling legislation to apply the increased taxation on online gaming is likely to be taken up in the current session of Parliament, and the date of implementation is projected to be October 1.

Sitharaman also noted that the council had decided to assess how the increased GST on online gaming had fared after six months of implementation.

Less than a month after the council resolved on July 11 to collect a 28 percent tax on the full amount of the money paid by consumers to online games in a uniform manner, making no distinction between games of skill and chance, they met via video conferencing on August 2.

The meeting's brief agenda centred on a discussion of how online gambling is taxed in light of Schedule 3 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. This act defines and taxes lottery, betting, and gambling.

The amendment, which proposes to include winnings and deposits (including virtual digital assets) in the 28 percent bracket, was adopted by the council.

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