The 55th GST Council, which is headed by the finance minister, Nirmala Sithraman, came to an end on December 21. Some significant developments emerged from the meeting of the 33-member council, which also includes FM of each individual state.
While no decisive move was made on Aviation Turbine Fuel, or ATF, when it comes to bringing it under the GST ambit, a decision on the reduction of GST on insurance premiums and food delivery was also deferred.
A monumental amount of traction was however attained by some other decisions and proposals. Variegated taxes on different types of popcorn, along with GST on used cars, all of these issues elicited reactions from taxpayers online.
Tax Terrorism Trends On X
As thsi discourse progressed, the hastag #TaxTerrorism has been trending on social media platform X.
One user added Plain Tea without Sugar : 5%, Plain Tea with sugar : 12%, Milk Tea without Sugar : 18%, Milk Tea with Sugar : 28%, wit the hastag #TaxTerrorism
Another user drew a direct comparison between the taxation system in the United States and India.
One user added, “I am paying all hefty taxes like Income tax, GST, Cess, VAT, Professional tax, Property Tax, Road tax but getting third world infrastructure in return.
Tell me one good reason to stay in this country? #TaxLoot #GST #TaxTerrorism “
Taxation To Vexation
Another user outraged, “Income & Employment is not necessary, But paying taxes is mandatory. Your food and clothes are secondary, But paying taxes is mandatory.” The user also added an AI-generated meme to to this post.
Other X users resorted to different jocular means to express their indignance.
“While businesses are getting PLI, Tax breaks….. and a common who can barely afford a 4 wheeler aspires 2nd Hand car, Has to pay 18%, are these guys out of mind :rage:. Will ITC wouldn’t apply here?”, said another user.
Another X user said, “One nation but multiple taxes, and neither BJP nor Congress seems to have an issue with it. In the end, it’s the middle-class taxpayers who are exploited with no way to defend themselves. #TaxTerrorism.”
