GST rollout on 1 July: Mamata Banerjee to give rebates on regional cinema tickets

Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Wednesday decided to give rebates on regional cinema tickets in the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime so that the effective tax rate will remain at par with the existing two per cent entertainment tax, a senior minister said on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_3714087” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI[/caption] “Out of the proposed 18 per cent GST rate to be imposed on regional cinema, nine per cent share belongs to the state. The cabinet has decided to give 7 per cent rebate on the cinema tickets amounting Rs 100 or less, to keep the tax rate at par with the existing two per cent entertainment tax,” state Finance Minister Amit Mitra told reporters after a cabinet meeting. He said the GST council proposed 28 per cent tax rate for the cinema tickets amounting more than Rs 100. “In case of tickets costing more than 100, state’s share of tax comes to 14 per cent. The cabinet also decided to give 12 per cent rebate on these cinema tickets,” Mitra said. The rebates will be applicable for Bengali, Nepali and Saotali cinemas, he said. Mitra said initially 28 per cent GST rates was proposed to be imposed on Cinema but state opposed it. “We opposed the high tax rates on cinema tickets. Later, the GST council proposed 18 per cent rate for the regional cinema for the tickets worth Rs 100 or less,” he added.