The proposed good and services tax (GST) will inflate prices of consumer durable like television, air conditioner, refrigerator and washing machine which will go up by 4 percent or more, according to industry estimates.
Smaller home appliances such as electric irons, mixer grinders and juicers will also become dearer as all of them will come under one GST slab.
Under the proposed GST slab, all home appliances and consumer durable will attract a 28 percent tax, which was different for different products earlier.
For durable like television, air conditioner, refrigerator and washing machine the cumulative tax (excise and value-added tax) was around 23-28 percent depending on the state. However, prices in cities like Mumbai will come down as there was an additional octroi of 5 percent on consumer goods.
By Baishakhi Dutta
