The Ministry of Finance today denied the reports saying that farmers would be required to take registration and pay GST of 18% when they lease out their land. The Government in a Statement issued Today clarified that there is no change in laws and taxation relating to farmers.
Earlier, there were reports in a certain section of the Press that certain changes have been made in GST law relating to farmers, which will come into force with effect from 1st June 2018 according to which farmers would be required to take registration and pay GST of 18% when they lease out their land.
“This news is factually incorrect and misleading. There has been No Change in the GST law and taxation relating to farmers since July 2017, when GST was implemented. Support services to agriculture, forestry, fishing or animal husbandry are exempt from GST. Such exempted support services include renting or leasing of vacant land with or without a structure incidental to its use. Thus, renting or leasing of land by farmers for agriculture, forestry, fishing or animal husbandry on batai (share-cropping) or otherwise is also exempt from GST,” the Government said.
It was further said that the agriculturists are also exempted from taking GST registration. Agriculturist has been defined to mean an individual or a HUF who undertakes cultivation of land-
