Taxes are a major source of revenue for the government and form the backbone of any country’s financial system. In India, taxes are broadly classified into direct tax and indirect tax. While direct tax is levied on income and profits of individuals and organisations, respectively, indirect tax is charged on goods and services. For consumers, the existence of indirect taxation indicates the possibility of paying more than the base price of products purchased or services availed.
Let’s learn more about how indirect taxation works, its types, features, and more.
What is Indirect Tax?
It is a type of tax levied on goods and services rather than on an individual’s income or wealth.
- In indirect taxation, the responsibility for the payment is ultimately passed to the consumer. For example, when you buy a mobile phone, the price you pay includes an indirect tax called Goods and Services Tax (GST). The shopkeeper collects the tax from you and remits it to the government.
- This differs from direct tax, where individuals or businesses pay directly to the government as per their income, profits, or other criteria.
- Over time, several forms of indirect taxation, such as excise duty, VAT, and service tax, have been consolidated under GST to create a unified system.
Types of Indirect Tax
India has implemented various forms of indirect taxation, many of which now come under the umbrella of GST.
Common types of indirect tax include:
Goods and Services Tax (GST):
Introduced in 2017, GST subsumes most indirect taxes and ensures a single, unified tax structure.
Customs Duty:
Levied on imports and exports to regulate trade and protect domestic industries.
Excise Duty:
Charged on the manufacture of goods within India (mostly merged into GST now).
Value Added Tax (VAT):
Imposed on goods at the state level before GST; still applicable in limited cases like petroleum.
Service Tax:
Earlier charged on services, now subsumed under GST.
Entertainment Tax, Octroi, and others:
Local taxes that were merged into GST.
Why is GST Considered a Major Indirect Tax?
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is regarded as one of the most significant tax concepts in India’s indirect taxation system. Before GST, consumers and businesses faced multiple taxes that overlapped each other, such as excise duty, service tax, VAT, and octroi. This would often result in the cascading effect of ‘tax on tax’. GST eliminated this issue by introducing a single, unified tax structure across the country, often described as the ‘One Nation, One Tax’ system.
By merging various state and central tax concepts, GST brought uniformity in tax rates. Furthermore, it also improved transparency for consumers, who can now see the tax clearly reflected on invoices. For retailers, GST has made it easier to comply, as all GST returns can be filed through a centralised system.
Features of Indirect Tax
Some defining features of indirect tax are:
Transferable Nature
The most important feature of indirect tax is that it can be transferred from one party to another. It is the consumer who pays the tax at the end.
Wide Coverage
Indirect tax applies to almost every product and service people use. This can range from daily essentials like groceries and fuel to luxury items such as cars and air travel. This ensures steady revenue for the government.
Consumption-Based Tax
Unlike direct taxes, which depend on an individual’s income, indirect taxes are triggered when goods or services are consumed. This makes them unavoidable for all sections of society.
Uniformity Across India
With the introduction of GST, indirect taxes are now more standardised. The same product attracts the same tax rate, whether sold in Delhi, Chennai, or Mumbai.
Difficult to Evade
Since the tax is included in the selling price itself, consumers cannot avoid paying it. Unlike direct tax, it cannot be evaded.
Limitations of Indirect Tax
Although effective, indirect taxes have certain drawbacks:
Regressive in Nature
Indirect taxes apply at the same rate to everyone, regardless of income level. This means lower-income individuals end up spending a larger share of their earnings on taxes, as compared to higher-income groups.
Impact on Rates
Since indirect tax is added to the selling price of goods and services, it makes products more expensive. Over time, this can lead to a rise in overall inflation and affect purchasing power.
Less Transparent for Consumers
Most people pay indirect taxes without realising the exact amount, as the tax is already included in the final price. While one can estimate direct tax liability using a tax calculator, the same may not be possible with indirect taxation.
Not Linked to Ability to Pay
Unlike direct tax, which is based on one’s income level, indirect tax does not reflect a person’s financial capacity. As a result, the tax structure can sometimes feel unfair to economically weaker sections.
To conclude, indirect taxes are an inseparable part of daily life, applied to almost everything we buy or consume. With GST, India has moved towards a unified, transparent, and efficient indirect taxation system. However, its regressive nature and inflationary effect are challenges that remain. By being aware of indirect tax and the role it plays in the goods and services available in the market, you can take a step forward towards becoming a well-informed consumer.
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