Pune: The government of Maharashtra has taken the lead in implementing new reduced Goods and Services Tax ( GST) at restaurants all over Maharashtra from the midnight of 14th November 2017. Maharashtra is one of the first states to take this lead and cut tax at restaurants which will result in a reduction of 13% for all consumers. Restaurants had begun to charge 18% GST on all consumption of food since GST regime began in the first week of July 2017.
In cities like Pune and Mumbai, there was a huge uproar as consumers were made to pay 18% over and above their food and beverage bills. This was also taken up by hoteliers in various cities as the restaurant bills saw a sharp rise and consumer organisations started complaining about it.
Maharashtra's food and civil supplies Minister Girish Bapat told Sakal Times on Tuesday that according to the latest directive coming from the GST council, a major relief has been given to restaurant goers in the state by brining the tax down from 18% to 5%. "We appeal to the hoteliers that they should immediately pass on this benefit to the consumers so that the food items become cheaper. We expect a drop in the restaurant bill of about 12% to 13% because that is the relief we have given," Bapat said.
"The food and civil supplies ministry will monitor the situation and will keep a watch on whether the restaurant owners pass on the benefit of tax cut to consumers. In case any consumer has any complaint about more than 5% GST being charged they can complain to us. We have started a special helpline, consumers can call on 1800225900 and file their complaints in this regard," Minister Bapat added.
Pune city has thousands of restaurants which are frequented by consumers in large numbers. When GST was implemented, sudden hike of 18% GST hit the consumers badly a lot of pictures of restaurant bills with 18% additional tax (9% SGST & 9% CGST) were getting posted on social media with angry comments. Now Pune consumers can expect relief in GST from Wednesday.
