Additional cess for flood-hit Kerala may get diluted at GST meeting

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has proposed a 10 per cent cess on SGST for two years to raise Rs 10 billion annually

Flood-hit Kerala's proposal of an additional cess on state goods and services tax (SGST) to raise resources for rehabilitation may have to undergo modifications for an approval by the GST Council, the highest decision making body. Several state finance ministers have said that the proposal of imposing a 10 per cent cess across the board on SGST may put an additional burden on the people, who have been hit by the worst floods in the state in decades. They have suggested that the cess be limited to certain items only. 

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has proposed a 10 per cent