Major consumer durables to be taxed at 28%

Mobile handsets are likely to be provided some relief as government pushes local manufacturing

Majority of the items from the consumer durables sector are likely to be taxed at 28 per cent under the final goods and services tax (GST) rates that were announced on Thursday. According to industry experts, some of the items – belonging to the lower price bands – might be taxed at 18 per cent, considering their mass nature. 

While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday announced the tax slabs for all products and services in the country, he did not specify the items under each of the four tax slabs – five, 12, 18 and 28 per cent. Currently,