GST Council meet: inclusion of real-estate on agenda

An important Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meet ahead of the Union Budget is scheduled on January 18. According to sources, discussion of real estate inclusion in GST is the key agenda of this meeting. "Discussion of real estate inclusion in GST is the key agenda of the GST Council which is scheduled to meet on January 18th," a senior government official told privy to the deliberations. He further added that the GST Council in all likelihood will not reach a decision on this, but a serious discussion is expected nonetheless. Moreover, states like Delhi and Jammu Kashmir are very keen to bring real estate sector under the GST ambit. Further, according to the senior government official, more than one dozen issues are on agenda for the meeting on January 18. The official added that the GST Council is likely to give nod to rationalisation of rates on five - six items. These items are related to equipments which are used in agriculture. Amendments in GST laws is also on the agenda for the meeting.