Watching films in cinema halls is set to get cheaper with the government slashing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tickets. The GST comes down to 18% from 28% for tickets exceeding Rs. 100 and has been lowered to 12% from 18% for those up to Rs. 100.The decision comes close on the heels of Tuesday’s meeting of film industry heads with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai. Among a gamut of concerns raised, the delegation had pitched strongly for lower and uniform rates of GST for the entertainment industry.The quick move to rationalise the GST has come as a huge relief for the industry and been welcomed whole-heartedly. “On behalf of the Indian film industry, I would like to thank the government for taking this progressive step,” said Siddharth Roy Kapur, president of Producers Guild of India.In the past one year, the film industry had been grappling with changes, challenges and issues arising post implementation of the GST legislation with cinema tickets placed in the highest tax slab.
Source Link : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/lower-gst-on-cinema-tickets-welcomed/article25810494.ece