सविस्तर माहितीसाठी इकॉनॉमिक टाइम्स मधील बातमी वाचावी.

Housing price are likely to fall by up to 5% following the implementation of goods and services tax (GST) after the Centre and states decided to peg the levy at 12% on finished houses or apartments.

After allowing for credit for taxes paid on inputs such as cement, steel, paints and other items, the actual burden will be lower. As a result, the price of a Rs 1-crore apartment may come down by Rs 3-5 lakh, said a consultant.

The net price of houses in the affordable segment, which cost up to Rs 30 lakh (at Rs 3,500 per sq ft of built-up area) should fall by 5%. Once GST kicks in, home buyers will not have to pay the 4.5% service tax on the final price that they shell out while taking possession.

As a result, tax consultants and realtors said that fixing the GST rate at 12% was a customer-friendly move and would lead to either lower tax liability or be tax neutral.

For a premium product, however, Credai chairman and CMD of ATS Infrastructure Geetambar Anand said that at 12% GST, customers will benefit from projects that cost up to Rs 6,000 per sq ft.

A premium project may not gain significantly as developers build high margins into such properties. Manoj Gaur, Credai vicepresident and MD of Gaursons, said that if input credits are allowed properly, the 12% GST rate is favourable to buyers.

via GST gains: Prices of flats may drop by up to 5%