CENTRAL GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023
The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017. The Act provides for the implementation of decisions of the GST Council to levy a 28% tax on online gaming. The GST Council recommended subjecting actionable claims associated with casinos, horse racing, and online gaming to a uniform 28 percent tax rate, irrespective of the classification of these activities as games of skill or chance. Additional amendments to the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, have also been proposed. With respect to online gaming and actionable claims in casinos, the Council has proposed assessing their value based on the sum paid or deposited by players to the supplier, excluding previous winnings. This approach contrasts with taxing the total value of each bet placed.