Eating out will cost you less as the GST Council slashed the levy on all restaurants, other than those in high-end hotels, from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.
BCCL/Representational Image
At the same time, it did away with the benefit of input tax credit for restaurants with an annual revenue of Rs 1 crore or more as they were not passing on the benefit of lower tax incidence to consumers. "Since they did not pass on the benefit they are not entitled to the benefit (any longer)," finance minister Arun Jaitley said after the meeting here.
Restaurants criticised the government's move and said that menu prices will go up by 6 per cent as the tax credits had been withdrawn. As a result, a dish that earlier cost, say, Rs 500 will now cost Rs 530, if eateries decide to pass on the additional burden to consumers.
At the same time, the tax burden will decline from Rs 90 (18 per cent of 500) to Rs 26.50. As a result, the bill will come down from Rs 590 to Rs 556.50, a decline of around 5.7 per cent, the owner of a leading restaurant chain explained.
ALSO READ:?Dining Out To Get Cheaper? Government Might Crackdown On Unfair Imposition Of Service Charge
BCCL/Representational Image
"This will make eating out and ordering food at home more affordable for consumers and will lead to a significant growth in the organised restaurant segment," said Hari Bhartia, cochairman of Jubilant Foodworks, which runs Domino's Pizza and Dunkin Donuts chains in India.