As GST rolled out this month, rumours were doing rounds on social media stating that the churches and mosques have been exempted from GST. The Finance Ministry made it clear that they are encouraging no religious distinction under the Goods and Service Tax.
The rumours which could strike a religious conflict stated that churches and mosques were exempted from paying GST while Temples will still have to pay under the new taxation law.
Introducing the new tax regime was one of the most significant economic reform in the history of our country. The Press Information Bureau, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India issued a Press release stating, “Appeal to people not to start circulating wrong messages on social media as no distinction is made in the GST Law on any provision based on religion.”
The release further said, “There are some messages going around in the social media stating that the temple trusts have to pay the GST while the churches and mosques are exempt. This is completely untrue because no distinction is made in the GST Law on any provision based on religion. We request to people not to start circulating such wrong messages on social media.”
