GST Rate & HSN/SAC Code for Services - Updated for 2022

All goods and services exchanged in India are categorised as part of the SAC code system or the HSN code system under GST. Goods are categorised using the HSN Code, while services are categorised using the SAC Code. GST rates have been set in five classes called slabs which are predicated on the HSN or SAC codes. These five slabs are: NIL, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%.

What is GST and What Are GST Rates

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a value-added tax imposed almost on all commodities and services that can be purchased for domestic consumption and used within the country. It is a unified tax structure that eliminates all prior state and central taxes.

GST is the result of combining all central taxes, such as sales tax, excise duty, surcharges, cesses, state VAT, luxury tax, purchase tax, entertainment tax, and so on into a single tax.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a single tax, but given the sheer number of basic commodities and services, they are classified into different GST slabs or have different GST tax rates.

The GST rates are fixed under five slabs:

  • NIL: No tax is charged on the goods or services used
  • 5 %: Under this tax slab, 5% tax is charged on the goods or services used
  • 12%: Under this tax slab, 12% tax is charged on the goods or services used
  • 18%: Under this tax slab, 18% tax is charged on the goods or services used
  • 28%: Under this tax slab, 28% tax is charged on the goods or services used

Note: Precious metals like gold are exempted and placed under the 3% slab.

What is an HSN code?

The HSN code is an abbreviation for the World Customs Organisation's (WCO) Harmonised System of Nomenclature, which went into effect in 1988. The WCO's primary objective in implementing HSN codes was to define all commodities in a structured manner. It removes ambiguity and facilitates international trade and investment between countries. HSN codes are used for trading over 20,000 items between nations around the globe. WCO uses the revised HSN codes for more than 90% of global trade.

The HSN system is used by more than 200 countries and economies for reasons such as:

  • Classification that is consistent
  • Base for their customs tariffs
  • Statistical compilation of international trade

How does the HSN/SAC code work?

It has approximately 5,000 commodity groups, each of which is defined by a six-digit code and is organised in a judicial and sequential. To ensure constant classification, it is backed by well-defined guidelines.

Since 1971, India has been a part of the World Customs Organisation (WCO). It is used to identify goods for Customs and Central Excise using 6-digit HSN codes. Customs and Central Excise eventually added two extra digits to the HSN codes to make them more accurate, resulting in an 8-digit categorisation.

HSN codes are primarily used by distributors, vendors, suppliers, merchants, and traders. They must either use two-digit, four-digit, or eight-digit HSN codes based on the following parameters.

  • If the company's annual revenue is less than Rs. 1.5 crores, there is no need to use HSN codes
  • If the company's annual revenue is between Rs. 1.5 crores and Rs. 5 crores, they must use two-digit HSN codes for all business transactions
  • If the company's annual revenue exceeds Rs. 5 crores, it must use four-digit HSN codes
  • Import and export dealings, as well as foreign trades, require the use of 8-digit HSN codes for entrepreneurial ventures
Update for 2021: Notification No. 78/2020 – Central Tax, dated 15.10.2020 has been issued to make HSN code mandatory up to 4 digits in the B2B invoices with effect from 01.04.2021 issued by taxpayers whose aggregate turnover in the preceding financial year is upto Rs. 5 crores. For the taxpayers whose turnover in the preceding financial year is more than Rs. 5 crores, HSN code is mandatory up to 6 digits in invoices with effect from 01.04.2021.

Services Accounting Code (SAC) in GST

The SAC code is a similar concept to the HSN code. SAC stands for Service Accounting Codes, and it is a one-of-a-kind code used in India underneath the GT regime for the identification, evaluation, and taxation of services. As part of it:

  • The starting two digits, i.e., 99 are the same for all services
  • The succeeding two digits, i.e., 82), represent the primary nature of the service
  • The final two digits, i.e., 13 represent the specific nature of the service

Why is HSN and SAC important under GST?

The goal of HSN codes is to make GST more effective and universally accepted. HSN codes will eliminate any need to submit a detailed product description.

The following is a list of a few of the GST service accounting codes. You can find the current GST Rate for service in Chapter 99 of the SAC Codes & GST Rates for Services.

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Conclusion

The goal of HSN codes is to start making GST and GST registration more systematic and universally recognised. HSN codes will eliminate any need to submit a detailed product description. Since GST returns are automated, this will save time and make filing easier.

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