GST: Lower taxes to prevail in entertainment sector, says Finance Ministry

While GST is a value added tax, entertainment tax, presently levied by states is like a turnover tax

Lower taxes will prevail in the entertainment sector in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as service providers will be eligible for full input tax credit, Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.

"Entertainment services shall suffer a lower tax incidence under GST. In addition to the benefit of lower headline rates of GST, the service providers shall be eligible for full input tax credits (ITC) of GST paid in respect of inputs and input services," the ministry said here in a statement.

Presently, such service providers are not eligible for input credits in respect of VAT (value-added tax) paid on domestically procured capital goods and inputs or of Special Additional Duty (SAD) paid on imported capital goods and inputs.

Thus, while GST is a value added tax, entertainment tax, presently levied by the states is like a turnover tax.

Taxes on entertainments and amusements (covered by the erstwhile entry 62 of State List of the Constitution) have been subsumed under GST, except to the extent of taxes on entertainments and amusements levied by a panchayat or a municipality.

The rate of GST approved by the GST Council on services by way of admission to entertainment events or in cinema theatres is 28 per cent.

"However, the entertainment tax rates in respect of exhibition of cinematography films in theaters/cinema halls, currently levied by states are as high as 100 per cent in some of the states," the statement noted.

The rate of entertainment tax on cable TV and Direct-To-Home (DTH) levied by states is in the range of 10 to 30 per cent in many states.

Apart from this, service tax is also leviable at the rate of 15 per cent. As against this, the rate of GST approved by GST Council on these services is 18 per cent.

The rate of GST approved by the GST Council on access to circus, theatre, Indian classical dance including folk dance and drama is 18 per cent ad valorem.

"Further, the GST Council has approved an exemption up to a consideration for admission of Rs 250 per person. These services currently attract entertainment tax levied by the states," it said.