Corporate and income taxes are examples of direct taxes that must be paid annually. However, indirect taxes are far more common. Indirect tax is incurred each time you reserve a taxi or dine at a restaurant.

There are additional types of indirect taxes for certain products and services, making it essential to be aware of these subtypes to estimate your tax obligations accurately. Let's delve about indirect tax, its advantages, and more.

Indirect Tax Means

Suppliers add indirect tax to the cost of products and services. The tax is gathered by the supplier and submitted to the authorities. In the end, the tax is transferred to the final customer. The customers bear the tax on their purchases. Indirect taxes include things like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and alcohol and gasoline excise taxes.

Let's take the case of going to a hotel for lunch as an example. When the bill arrives, you see that GST (an indirect tax) is included. Assume that the bill is for Rs. 3000 and that the GST rate is 5 percent. Since the merchant passed on Rs. 150 in indirect tax to you, you would therefore need to pay Rs. 3150 (3000 150).

Different Types of Indirect Taxes in India

There are a number of indirect taxes that are imposed. They are: -

1. Service tax

This is based on the services the client uses and is charged. For instance, if someone makes a hotel reservation, service tax is applied to the total cost of the reservation.

2. Value Added Tax (VAT)

This is paid based on the value that is added to the price when the items are sold, as in the case of a wholesaler selling products to a retailer.

3. Excise Duty

This covers the cost of producing the items. For instance, a person who makes vehicles is required to pay excise taxes on those made.

4. Stamp Duty

This amount is paid upon the sale of real estate. Furthermore, stamp duty is required for all kinds of legal papers.

5. Entertainment Tax

This tax is applied to all transactions involving entertainment. Movie tickets, arcade games, stage performances, art exhibits, theme parks, and sports-related events are a few examples.

6. Custom Duty

This is a cost associated with importing goods from outside India.

Advantages of Indirect Tax

The benefits of indirect taxes are as follows: -

1. Convenience

Indirect tax is assessed at the time of purchase, which lessens the taxpayer's burden. In addition, collecting it takes less time and effort than collecting direct taxes.

2. Equitable Contributions

Since indirect taxes are included in the cost of products and services, they are comparatively simpler to collect than direct taxes.

3. Ease of Collection

Substantial products, including food items, are taxed less heavily than luxury goods, ensuring equal contributions through indirect taxation.

4. Reduce Negative Consumption

Products that are detrimental to human health, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other items, are subject to the highest indirect taxes. Because of this, they are more expensive, which helps reduce the amount of money spent and dangerous goods consumed.

Features of Indirect Taxes

Let’s discuss the best features of indirect taxes: -

1. You pay indirect taxes on the things and services you buy rather than on your yearly income or profit.

2. The burden of paying indirect tax to the government is transferred to customers by suppliers of products and services. As a result, the tax is collected at the time of sale.

3. Due to the flat tax burden, indirect taxes have a tendency to be regressive. But in India, the implementation of the GST has contributed to a change in this.

4. Since indirect taxes are involved in the cost of many goods and services, it is impossible to avoid them.

5. Individuals who earn more than a specific amount are required to pay direct taxes. On the other hand, because they are levied on all goods and services that individuals buy, indirect taxes have a wider social reach.

6. A greater price for the good or service is indicative of a higher indirect tax. Customers are typically encouraged to spend more as a result, which encourages them to save and invest.

The Bottom Line

Indirect taxes are significant to our economy and society. They bring in money for the government and assist in paying for necessary public services. Nevertheless, they also have an effect on enterprises, customers, and the general cost of life. To be able to make wise financial decisions, people need to have a fundamental grasp of indirect taxes.