Supreme Court seeks govt’s response on GST plea by e-gaming firms

Supreme Court seeks govt’s response on GST plea by e-gaming firms

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to submit its response to the plea filed by online gaming companies, challenging the 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on full value of bets placed on their platform.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has asked the government to respond in two weeks. The petitioners contesting the 28% levy include E-Gaming Federation, Dream 11, Games 24×7 among others.

Online gaming firms have raised objections over the payment of 28% GST instead of 18% for the period up to October 1, 2023. Gaming firms argue that the 28% levy over online gaming transactions is applicable only starting October 1, but the government is of the view that the revision of rate was done only to provide “clarity” to a law that was already in place.

On December 5, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary had informed the Parliament that 71 show cause notices involving GST to the tune of Rs 1.12 trillion have been issued to online gaming companies during financial years FY23 and FY24 (April-October).

Last week, FE reported that the government has started blocking the websites and apps of some offshore online gaming companies that have neither registered their businesses in India nor pay the Goods and Service Tax (GST), quoting an official.