Tag Archives: GST reforms

economy, government, politics, taxation

CBIC Fact-Checks Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai Over His Claims Of 18% GST On Caramel Popcorn

Leave a comment

**CBIC Corrects Rajdeep Sardesai on GST Rates for Popcorn Following Recent Reforms**

*New Delhi:* The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), the statutory body under the Ministry of Finance responsible for administering indirect taxes, fact-checked journalist Rajdeep Sardesai regarding the latest GST reforms on Thursday.

In a now-deleted post on X, Sardesai had claimed that caramel popcorn would be taxed at 18%. His post read:
*“The POPCORN debate has been resolved at last! Salted or spiced popcorn will now attract a uniform 5% GST, whether it’s sold loose or in pre-packaged form. Caramel popcorn will be taxed at 18%. Bring on the salted popcorn folks!”*

CBIC was quick to respond, sharing a screenshot of the post and clarifying:
*“Dear @sardesairajdeep, all sugar confectionery items will now be taxed at 5%. Kindly refrain from sharing incorrect information. Please see below the latest rates in Annexure II.”*

### Rajdeep Sardesai Issues Clarification

In a separate post on X, Sardesai corrected his earlier statement, saying:
*“Clarification: @cbic_india has clarified that ALL popcorn will have GST at 5%. Whether loose or packaged, or caramel. Earlier reports had said salted popcorn at 5% and caramel at 18% because of sugar element. Now, ALL sugar confectionery products will be at 5%.”*

### Background: The Popcorn GST Debate

Last year, popcorn became a topic of heated debate due to differentiated GST rates based on type:
– Loose salted popcorn: 5% GST
– Packaged popcorn: 12% GST
– Caramel popcorn: 18% GST

However, with the new GST reforms, the inclusion of all sugar confectionery items under the 5% tax bracket has effectively standardized GST rates for this popular snack.

The revised GST rates will come into effect from September 22.

The “popcorn controversy” dates back to the rollout of GST in July 2017. Initially, loose popcorn was exempt from tax, whereas packaged popcorn attracted 12% GST, leading to ongoing confusion and debate around applicable rates.

—

Stay tuned for more updates on GST reforms and their impact on consumers and businesses.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/cbic-fact-checks-journalist-rajdeep-sardesai-over-his-claims-of-18-gst-on-caramel-popcorn

consumer affairs, dispute resolution, government, policy, technology

National Consumer Helpline Now Accepts GST-Related Complaints In 16 Languages To Address Queries And Disputes Effectively

Leave a comment

New Delhi: The Department of Consumer Affairs on Saturday launched a dedicated GST grievance category on the National Consumer Helpline to address queries and complaints related to the GST 2.0 reforms.

The National Consumer Helpline can be accessed via the toll-free number 1915 or online in 16 Indian languages and English. It functions as a single pre-litigation point of access for consumers across the country to register grievances at the pre-litigation stage.

Consumers can also register GST-related complaints through the Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism (INGRAM) portal. This portal covers key sectors such as automobiles, banking, consumer durables, e-commerce, and fast-moving consumer goods.

The new GST reforms are set to take effect from September 22. To address the expected consumer queries and complaints following the implementation of revised GST charges, rates, and exemptions, a dedicated category has been enabled on the INGRAM portal, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said.

On September 11, officials from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) conducted an inaugural training session to equip National Consumer Helpline counsellors to handle GST-related queries and grievances effectively.

The Ministry highlighted that consumer complaint data and insights will be shared with affected companies, the CBIC, and other authorities. This collaborative approach aims to enable prompt action under relevant laws, enhance GST compliance, and support a participatory governance model.

The National Consumer Helpline’s omni-channel platform supports multiple registration modes, including WhatsApp, SMS, email, a dedicated app, web portal, and the Umang app, the ministry added.

Significant technological upgrades have boosted the helpline’s call-handling capacity. Call volumes increased from 12,553 in December 2015 to 1,55,138 in December 2024. Similarly, the average number of complaints registered per month rose from 37,062 in 2017 to 1,70,585 in 2025, with around 65% of grievances now filed digitally.

Each complaint is assigned a unique docket number to ensure transparent tracking and resolution, the ministry noted.

*(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/national-consumer-helpline-now-accepts-gst-related-complaints-in-16-languages-to-address-queries-and-disputes-effectively