The Indian GST structure saw substantial modifications as a consequence of the 54th GST Council Meeting, which was presided over by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on September 9, 2024. Important results included lower GST rates for medications used in cancer treatment, lower rates for certain foods, and a new GST rate for helicopter services. The introduction of e-invoicing for B2C transactions and the need for clarifications regarding input tax credit were also discussed at the discussion. The Council underlined the need of stakeholder engagement to guarantee that future changes are advantageous and sustainable for the economy, even though several decisions were postponed for more study.

This blog explains the recent GST Council decision to waive interest and penalties on demand notices issued under Section 73 of the CGST Act for the financial years 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20. It outlines the eligibility criteria, benefits for taxpayers, and important considerations.