GST Rates: Items that will continue to be expensive

In the biggest GST rearrangement yet, tax rates on over 200 items, ranging from chewing gum to chocolates, to beauty products, wigs and wrist watches, were today cut from the 28 per cent slab to 18 per cent. However certain goods were kept under 28 per cent slab.

Here are a few articles that will continue under the 28 per cent slab.

The top tax rate of 28 per cent will now be levied on goods like pan masala, aerated water and beverages, cigars and cigarettes, tobacco products, cement, paints, perfumes, ACs, dish washing machine, washing machine, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, cars and two-wheelers, aircraft and yachts.

Only luxury and sin goods are now only in the highest tax bracket and items of daily use are shifted to 18 per cent.

There were 227 items in the 28 per cent slab. The fitment committee had recommended that it should be pruned to 62 items. But the GST Council has further pruned more items. Now all types of chewing gum, chocolates, preparation for women cosmetics, shaving and after-shave items, deodorants, washing powder detergent and granite and marble have been put in the 18 per cent category.