GST Council Decides To Exempt TTD Laddu Prasadam From Tax Net:- In a recent development, on the request of Andhra Pradesh Government, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) council has decided to exempt laddu prasadam and human hair at the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD).

According to reports, Finance Minister of AP, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu who attended the 17th GST council meeting said that, as the TTD is a religious trust involved in services of lakhs of devotees on a regular basis, it should be exempted from the GST registration.

The Council has also reduced the originally proposed GST rates on agarbathis, biogas and cashew nuts from 12% to 5%. This move came after, TTD requested the Centre to exempt the ingredients that it purchases from making laddus and other prasadams from GST, says reports.

While another reports earlier said that besides the sale of human hair and other revenue sources of the temple board, the TTD had also requested had also requested that items used for pooja and serving pilgrims at choultries, guest houses also be exempt from tax.

The State Government had already granted TTD immunity under VAT. If the GST was imposed an annual additional burden on TTD would have been Rs 70 crores, the accounts department of TTD said.

SUPRAJA