By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, AUG 06, 2017: AS expected the GST Council at its 20th meeting yesterday approved the e-Way Bill Rules which would come into effect from October 1, 2017. Though the industry wanted a higher threshold for the value of consignment but the Council voted in favour of Rs 50,000 limit. However, the GST Coucil's Chairman, Mr Arun Jaitley, said that there would be no check posts obstructing the movement of trucks on highways as it is going to be a completely technology-driven system. It would also apply to all sales involving movement of goods beyond 10 km in distance. It has also been decided that the exempted goods would be outside the purview of these rules.

As per the Draft Rules, the GSTN would generate e-permit valid for 1 to 20 days - one day for 100 km and three days for 100 to 300 km and five days for 500 to 1000 km.

The much-protested Anti-Profiteering Ruels also got the nod of the Council which has decided to set up Screening Committee in the next two weeks. Mr Jaitley urged the industry to pass on the benefits of reduction in rates to the consumers.

Besides, e-way Bill Rules, the Council also reviewed certain representations received from the industry and trade and decided to reduce the GST rate on Government Works Contract from from 18% to 12% with full ITC. Job work in the textile industry is another activity on which the rate has been reduced to 5%. Similarly, the Council reduced the tax rate on tractor parts from 28% to 18% to address the problem of inverted duty structure.