The government denied giving any additional relief to the mobile sector apart from extended due dates in filing the returns. The sector will face a 6% hike in the rates that will add on to the already worsened situation due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The government’s only relief to the mobile manufacturers is an extension in the due dates for filing the GST returns till 30 June 2020. The entire list of handsets sold after 1 April 2020 will invite 18% GST from the current 12%, said sources.
The sector sought six months deferment in the payment of GST
As per the market analysis, even after the 21 days lockdown is over, it will take at least six months for the sector to revive and for the demand for handsets to enhance. The renowned smartphone manufacturers like Realme and Samsung have declared that the hike in GST rates will be carried forward to the end consumers.
As per the analytics, the estimated progress rate of the sector has stepped down to 5.5% from earlier 8%. An increase in the GST rates for smartphones
Realme is trying to cope with the other two impacts but a GST rate hike is undeniably hard to absorb. GST council hiked the rates of the end product to adjust with the inverted duty structure that taxed the components of the more phones more than the end product.
While Samsung and Realme have confirmed hiking prices for smartphones, Xiaomi and Vivo have yet to take the decision, said Arvinder Khurrana (president All India Mobile Retailers Association). Hike in the rates of smartphones might lead to job losses and might also hinder the pace for India to become a huge smartphone manufacturing hub.
To Be Noted: Amidst the coronavirus calamity, FM Nirmala Sitharama has provided relief to businesses with an annual turnover of less than Rs. 5 Crore as they can now file the GST returns