?GST not applicable on free food supplied by religious institutions, says Government
?GST not applicable on free food supplied by religious institutions, says Government

The government said on that free food supplied in anna kshetras (food areas) run by religious institutions have been kept out of the GST ambit. Besides, prasadam distributed by religious places of worship like temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras and dargahs, would not attract any Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The government rejected media reports which suggested that GST would be levied on free food supplied in anna kshetras run by religious institutions. A statement from the finance ministry said, "This is completely untrue. No GST is applicable on such food supplied free."

However, some of the items and services required for making prasadam would be subject to GST, including sugar, vegetable edible oils, ghee, butter, service for transportation of these goods and so on.

The ministry said, "Under the GST regime, it is difficult to prescribe a separate rate of tax for sugar, etc, when it is supplied for a particular purpose. GST, being a multi-stage tax, end use-based exemptions or concessions is difficult to administer. Therefore, GST does not envisage end use based exemptions."

It added, "It would, therefore, not be desirable to provide end use-based exemption for inputs or input services for making prasadam or food for free distribution by religious institutions."

 
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