GST on Gold Jewellery

Before the implementation of Goods and Services Tax in India, taxpayers need to pay service tax at the rate of 1% with 1% VAT. So, the taxpayer had to pay 2% extra on over and above the selling price of the gold jewellery purchased. However, with the introduction of the Goods and Service Tax gold jewellery will be taxable at the rate of 3%, gold has become more expensive to buy.

GST on Import of Gold

Goods and Services tax on import of gold will attract custom duty of 10% in addition to 3% GST and 5% making charges.

As result it will increase the price of the gold import and if you are planning to do some trading in gold, it is advisable to not to do trading of gold now. Rising price will impact to reduce in demand of gold and increase liquidity in investment.

Revised GST Rates of Gold Jewelry

Gold jewelry if manufactured using the gold imported from overseas:

• 10% Customs Duty on gold being imported from overseas
• 3% GST on the value of gold in the jewelry
• 5% GST on making charges of the gold jewelry

Effect of GST on Organized Sector

Currently, only 30% of the gold sector is organized. The GST will impose on gold with the view to increase the transparency and accountability on this sector, but it may also have the opposite effect. The high rate of GST on Gold will may lead to vendors smuggling gold or selling them at high price without issuing bill.

Effect of GST on Gold Jewellery Making Charges

Earlier in the industry, the making charges of gold were fixed at rate of 12% with an additional 12% charged as customs. With the introduction of the GST, the cost of making initially was 18%. However, now the rate will reduce to 5%.

Reverse Charge Mechanism on old Gold Jewellery

There had been a lot of confusion regarding the applicability of the reverse charge mechanism in case the jeweler purchases old gold jewellery from the customer.

Section 7 of the Central Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 state that the scope of supply includes transfer of Goods and Services made for a consideration by supplier in the course or furtherance of business. It has been clarified that sale of old gold jewellery by the customer is for a consideration but not in the course or furtherance of business hence sale of gold jewellery is not taxable at reverse charge basis.