Thursday, 05 December 2024
Thursday, 05 December 2024
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST rate rationalisation has proposed increasing the GST on sin goods, such as aerated beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products, from 28 per cent to 35 per cent, effective from 2025.
This new slab aims to target luxury and harmful goods. Other proposed changes include rationalising GST rates for readymade garments, with taxes ranging from 5 per cent to 28 per cent based on price brackets.
These suggestions are part of a report to be discussed by the GST Council on December 21.
The announcement has led to intense debates online. While some support the move as a means to curb consumption of harmful goods, others have criticised the steep tax hike as a burden on the middle class.
Social media users, of course, have said it best with humour and sarcasm.
Boiling frog fable: Slow but certain impact
A user compared the GST hike to the boiling frog fable, suggesting that gradual increases in taxes condition people to accept higher rates as normal. The post is humorously aimed to underline that the current 28 per cent GST will eventually seem reasonable compared to the new 35 per cent.
Cheer up, the worst is yet to come
One user sarcastically posted that the 35 per cent GST is just the starting point and that it could eventually rise to 125 per cent. One can’t help feeling sorry for the Union finance minister, who seems to be feeding the meme mills with unerring precision.
‘Before and after GST hike’
One X user poked fun at the impact of the tax hike on cosmetics, sharing a “before and after” meme. The image humorously depicted women’s flawless looks before the GST rise and exaggeratedly worn-out appearances afterward. Misogynistic much, but then humour may be exempt from GST and political correctness?
‘What did she eat? Middle-class savings’
A meme depicted a young Nirmala Sitharaman and a glowing version as the finance minister. The post humorously attributes the glow to the middle class's savings. This sarcastic take reflects widespread frustrations income-taxpayers face as they feel increasingly burdened by rising taxes.
Sorry, Mohan Bhagwat Sir, can’t afford third child
One user juxtaposed the GST hike against a recent headline about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat saying that three children per couple should be a norm to battle falling birth rates. At this (tax-hike) rate affording one child’s well-being is hard enough, thank you.
