No exemption yet, Sikh body goes for GST registration

Amritsar : After getting no response from the Centre and the state government for GST exemption, the SGPC has started the process to get itself registered for the new tax regime. As per the GST terms and conditions applicable since July 1, the SGPC is liable to pay tax on the expenses made in the SGPC-run gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple. The tax will be levied on the cost of langar items, ‘siropas’ (robes of honour), medicines for cancer patients’ given as charity and ‘karah parshad’. SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh said since there was no positive response from either the Centre or the state government, the SGPC initiated the procedure to obtain the mandatory GST registration number. “If no exemption is granted, we will be liable to pay the tax on items purchased for langar and other services with effect from July 1. ‘Karah parshad’ given against cash at counters will come under the GST ambit too. Devotees are not being charged the levy. But if need be, we will be liable to pay tax on their behalf till the process to obtain the GST number completes,” he said.