Viral Sach: Temple trusts to pay GST while churches, mosques are exempt?

The GST was formally launched in Delhi in a midnight function in Parliament on July 1. Image: PTI/Representational

NEW DELHI: Days after the pan-India Goods and Services Tax (GST) came into effect, several messages on internet went viral claiming temple trusts will have to pay GST while churches and mosques have been exempted. Alleging discrimination on the basis of religion under India's biggest tax reform, some social media users said if Temples are brought under purview of GST then why not mosques and Churches? A user Sanjay Tiwari wrote, "Previously it was Mughals who collected 'Jizyah' from Hindus and now it's Modi who will tax them". However, Finance Ministry hit out on such claims and called them mere rumors. "There are some messages going around in social media stating that temple trusts have to pay the GST while the churches and mosques are exempt. This is completely untrue because no distinction is made in the GST Law on any provision based on religion," Finance Ministry said in a tweet.

There are some messages going around in social media stating that temple trusts have to pay the GST while the churches & mosques are exempt.

— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 3, 2017

This is completely untrue because no distinction is made in the GST Law on any provision based on religion. — Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 3, 2017

"We request to people at large not to start circulating such wrong messages on social media," it added.

We request to people at large not to start circulating such wrong messages on social media.

— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 3, 2017

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia also cleared certain other misconceptions about the new indirect tax regime. "There are seven myths going around about GST which are not true. I want to dispel them one by one in form of myth and reality. Pl see these," Adhia tweeted. He posed the myth-reality binary on GST thus: Myth: I need to generate all invoices on computer/internet only Reality: Invoices can be generated manually also Myth: I need internet all the time to do business under GST Reality: Internet would be needed only while filing monthly return of GST Myth: I have provisional ID but waiting for final ID to do business Reality: Provisional ID will be your final GSTIN number. Start business Myth: My item of trade was earlier exempt, so I will immediately need new registration before starting business now Reality: You can continue doing business and get registered within 30 days Myth: There are three returns per month to be filed Reality: There is only one return with three parts, out of which first part filed by dealer and two other parts auto populated by computer Myth: Even small dealers will have to file invoice wise details in the return Reality: Those in retail business (B2C) need to file only summary of total sales Myth: New GST rates are higher compared to earlier VAT Reality: It appears higher because excise duty and other taxes, which were invisible earlier, are now subsumed in GST and so visible now.