Who would have thought 2020 would introduce us to gold and diamond masks and hand sanitizers would become an important part of our lives? Well, this is what it is. Stepping out without either one of them is a big no-no in the current times.
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One would think that since hand sanitizers should be used by every citizen of the country multiple times in an hour, its cost must have gone down to make it easily available for the general public. But this isn’t the case.
In fact, the Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) said that a GST of 18 per cent will be levied on all alcohol-based hand sanitizers (sought to be the most effective in killing COVID-19 germs), reported The Indian Express.
The decision came in when an Indian distillery approached Goa AAR seeking clarification on the hand sanitizers supplied by them and if they would be exempted from GST as they have now become an essential commodity.
Responding to their query, AAR said that, “Alcohol-based hand sanitizers attract a GST of 18% and merely classifying any goods as an essential commodity will not be the criteria for exempting such Goods from GST,” reported The Hindu.
And ever since the authority said that alcohol-based hand sanitizers would attract 18% GST, people online have been expressing their disapproval with memes.
Take a look:
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers attract 18% GST now !!
Le owners rn: pic.twitter.com/oWZD2Pbp4l— Aarti (@abechalnayrr) July 14, 2020
18% GST on hand sanitizer.
Corona be like: pic.twitter.com/r4AhEgAKFS— Hrithik Ahari (@AhariHrithik) July 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/vaqar69911/status/1283257742442913793?s=12
Me wanting to buy a hand #sanitizer bottle after 18% #GST.
My FD: pic.twitter.com/6FJIq1mmtB
— Jeet Churi (@JeetChuri) July 15, 2020
Goverment attract 18% GST on Alcohol based hand sanitizer…
Public b like : pic.twitter.com/l6O7ZLoqFv
— Mahwish Khan (@mahwishkhan153) July 14, 2020
18% gst on alcohol base hand sanitizer.
How can poor people buy and protect us for covid 19 pic.twitter.com/z51mgoFn8F— Uzma (@0786uzma) July 15, 2020
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers attract 18% GST :AAR
Same as liquor .
Le ppl: pic.twitter.com/OYH0oOiOFq— Aarti (@abechalnayrr) July 14, 2020
18% gst on most essential thing during pandemic pic.twitter.com/vTqFtzg4iy
— Tushar Malap (@tusharmalap82) July 14, 2020
#handsanitizers #18%GST. AAR: Alcohol-based hand sanitisers to attract 18% GST.
Meanwhile FACEMASKS : pic.twitter.com/uy5uAozhLL— karanbhanot (@karan16bhanot) July 14, 2020
When u get to knw that Alcohol-based hand sanitizers attract 18% GST now !! pic.twitter.com/CBJK6Cq42y
— Aarti (@abechalnayrr) July 14, 2020
18% GST on Alcohol based hand Sanitizers during a Pandemic !!
Bas ye hi dekh na reh gaya tha👏👏 pic.twitter.com/XeGDTYv1Ia
— Jaimin Sagar (@A_Retweeter_Boy) July 14, 2020
#18%GST
The Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) announced than 18 percent GST will be levied on all alcohol-based hand sanitizers despite classifying them as an essential commodity.
*Le sanitizer owners: pic.twitter.com/ERgjW11QDf— Shubham Mohapatra | शुभम महापात्रा (@SM__TWEET) July 14, 2020
The authority also said that ‘even though the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has classified hand sanitizers as an essential commodity, the GST law has a separate list of exempted goods.’ What do you think of this order? Tell us.