CM Sukhu tables legislation to amend taxation on goods carried by roads

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu who holds the portfolio of finance tabled legislation in the state assembly to amend the taxation on the goods carried by the roads to omit the provision to levy tax on account of distance covered.

The Himachal Pradesh Taxation  Amendment (on Certain Goods Carried by Road) Act,  2023 was tabled in the state assembly after the launch break by the Chief Minister who also holds the portfolio of finance seeking amendment said that the 1999 parent act was enacted to provide for levy of a tax on certain goods carried by road in the State to validate certain taxes imposed on goods carried by road and for certain other matters connected therewith.  

Chief Minister said that however, the act would render a loss tune to Rs 2.35 Cr to the state exchequer since tax on certain goods is being levied at different rates for a distance (up to 250 kilometers or beyond ).  CM said that an amendment was necessary in order to simplify the taxation procedure for the stakeholders, the distance clause is being omitted so that the tax may be levied on uniform rates without taking into account the distance covered.  

Chief Minister also tabled another bill to make provisions and amend the HP GST act to levy taxation on betting, casinos, gambling, horse racing, lottery, and online gaming. Mr. Sukhu said that the Central Government has already carried out amendments to the Central Goods and Services Tax Act. 2017. The Goods and Services Tax Act is a landmark tax reform with the first of its kind, ‘one nation, one tax’ approach, aimed at subsuming almost all indirect taxes at the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax Council (GST Council). Therefore, in order to have a uniform threshold across the Country, it is mandatory for all the State Governments to carry out corresponding amendments in the State Act. 

The amendment in the Himachal Pradesh Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 is in order to have uniformity across the Country and the bill seeks to achieve the aforementioned objectives. The bill likely to come for discussion rest three days left for the Monsoon session.