Is IPL a luxury? GST Council thinks so

After bracketed in highest tax slab, teams may face challenges to adjust price; fans may end up shelling more

- FIROZ MIRZA @Chennai

WITH the government recommending a hike in GST from 28 per cent to 40 per cent to watch IPL matches during the 56th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council on Wednesday, fans will be forced to shell out more for tickets from next season. What seems interesting is that IPL is categorised under luxury goods and attracts the same GST as casinos or tobacco.

According to a Ministry of Finance release, "Admission to casinos, race clubs, any place having casinos or race clubs or sporting events like IPL will have GST of 40 percent with ITC (Input Tax Credit)."