Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers in the Presence of Revenue Uncertainty: The Case of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India

A comprehensive multistage Value Added Tax (VAT) system, viz., Goods and Services Tax (GST), is introduced in India since 1 July 2017. GST encompasses various taxes from Union and State indirect tax bases and it is a dual VAT system with concurrent taxation power to Union and State governments. It was envisaged that removal cascading of taxes and enshrining destination based consumption tax system under GST will encourage investment and improve ease-of-doing business in India. Though it is not right time to comment on success or failure of Indian GST system unless the tax system stabilizes, so far revenue mobilization from GST is not encouraging. The shortfall in GST collection has been acknowledged in the ‘Medium Term Fiscal Policy cum Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement’ of the Union Budget 2019-20.