GST: Molecules to Atoms

With the current Indian scenario, it has been predicted that people who have no knowledge about GST would be beyond the IQ calculation criteria, (not that we were doing well anyway: checkout Richard Lynn's take on Indian IQ), having a masters in GST will make you an eligible partner, whereas the ones without GST expertise will have to create tinder accounts, and the most crucial one would be the loss of life due to exorbitant price of coffee curing. (Wondering what that means, read on).

If Richard's research on IQ is not very accurate, then you must have figured out that there is more to the GST debate than the effects it will have on the marital status of men or the dating preferences of women. Looking at the news channels blaring the acronym GST, I was compelled to find out its effect on people, our culture and YES!!! COFFEE.

So let us begin with simplifying GST for our dear readers:

What is GST:

GST, a short for Goods and Services Tax, is like the french revolution of the tax policy of India. This tax was implemented to avoid double taxation. Confused? Lets B-R-E-A-K it down for you:

Mr Dudley buys raw materiel for producing chocolates, he pays tax on the purchase. Later he adds value to the produced good and pays tax on the selling price again. This made poor Mr. Dudley pay double tax. Once on raw materiel, and once on raw materiel plus added value. GST comes like a knight in a shining armour (or not) , and saves Mr Dudley from this double oppression.

However this post is not about a long tax policy lecture. It is more about breaking down the molecules of policy into atoms of thoughts and interpretations. Now that we know what GST is, lets delve into few not so popular takes on it, but with a sip of caffeine.

One Economy, One tax, One.....One.......and One.....

So how has GST affected people? Isn't it obvious, we are all moving to a one world government? Earlier it was New Age and now it is GST *Gasps!!* How can a construction businessman and Television industry be taxed under one tax slab? Today you ask me to share tax slabs, and tomorrow you will ask me to share my coffee!! Isn't "oneness" a matter of heart? I would suggest we share that, and then later maybe we can work on a uniform GST.

Remove the old, take on the new

So just as I was enjoying the "getting rid of old" process, i was met by a 12 percent tax on branded clothing. "You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it" says Edith Head. Well what Edith meant was that sequin palettes and jersey jackets can play God . However with GST knocking on our wallets, rather snatching it from us, let us rethink about Fashion playing God in our lives. Why to follow a God that gets outdated too soon?

Media murdered the BOOK

I heard the media speak about GST and its impact on various sectors. Construction business, ad agencies, media and everything under the sun except for books. Though at first glance it may seem like there is no GST on the purchase of books, however the cost of books are affected majorly. Stop focusing on the artist, look at the vibrant paints he use, the soft brushes and the serene canvas. The publishers, copy editors and cover design artists are the ones whose services are taxed at 18%. I wonder if books would cease to exist in future, and Kindle would be the new Papyrus.

28% on Coffee Curing: WHY

Last but definitely not the least, Coffee Curing becomes super expensive. Coffee Curing is the drying of the green coffee beans and processing them into instant coffee. Do i see you getting anxious too, a GST of 28% has been levied on instant coffee and coffee curing. Remember that Bru Gold coffee ad? a perfect image of South Indian Coffee farmers. However lately, those farmers are quite distressed and have requested an 18% tax instead of the mammoth 28%. Didn't they know that coffee is the staple diet for FILTER COFFEE STORIES and its readers?

Legends say that a more than one page TAX POLICY articles can send the reader into coma. So here's to your safety and my sanity, molecules of policy into atoms of thoughts and interpretations.

© 2017 Anisha Mahima ALL RIGHTS RESERVED