Have you ever questioned why the liquor you buy at airport duty-free shops is cheaper than what you purchase outside? Or why are lottery winnings taxed even if they are below the basic exemption threshold? The discussion about the 28 percent GST on activities related to crypto resurfaced, bringing sin tax back into the forefront. The government considers these activities "sinful," so you must pay additional taxes to compensate for your sins. So, what exactly is a sin tax? Is it truly efficient? Let's find out what Sin Tax is in the blog here. Get in touch with professional tax planning and advisory services if you need help filing your firm’s taxes.

An Overview of Sin Tax

A sin tax is paid on services and goods that are deemed harmful to the person and society as a whole. When most of us think of "sinful" things, the first item that comes to mind is tobacco and alcohol, and our government agrees. Cigarettes have the largest GST rate of nearly 28% and a high cessation rate. A cess is a payment made by the Central to State governments to compensate for any revenue loss caused by a high GST. It's also no surprise that the levy will be factored into the final product's pricing.

To offer you a clear picture, taxes account for more than 52 percent of the total cost of cigarettes. WHO recommends a tax liability of at least 75% on all tobacco products to reduce tobacco use. Another product subject to sin tax is alcohol. While there is no GST on alcohol, it is regulated by state governments, so most states charge either VAT, Excise duty, or both. Liquor taxes are one of the most important sources of revenue for state governments. Maharashtra has the greatest liquor tax rate, whereas Goa, the hippie state, has the lowest.

Aside from items, certain actions are seen to have a negative impact on society. Lotteries and gambling are two prominent examples. In general, this rate is irrespective of the tax slab rate. For instance, if you are in the 15% tax rate, your lottery and gaming income will still be charged at a 30% rate plus a cess. So, if you win the lotto, keep in mind that you'll have to pay a hefty tax on it. Cryptocurrencies are the newest member of the sin tax club. With a 30% income tax rate and the potential of a 28% GST charge, authorities want consumers to avoid bitcoins.

Distinction Between Sin Tax and VAT

Sin Tax and VAT are indirect taxes paid by the final consumer. The government imposes both taxes in order to diversify and grow state revenue sources. However, there are several significant variations between them, which are as follows:

• VAT is a consumption tax levied by businesses on the provision of goods and services in the course of doing business, whereas sin tax is a selective tax imposed on specific commodities such as cigarette products, energy drinks, and used items. A sin tax is implemented to curb the sinful conduct of consuming tobacco goods.
• Except if a 0% exemption applies, VAT will be paid at a fixed rate of 5%. However, depending on the type of the commodity, sin tax can range from 100% to 50%.
• Sin tax administration differs from VAT administration in that VAT needs a quarterly statement from a business registered under VAT, and there are normally discounts on VAT that the company pays. The sin tax is just an excise tax that has no deductions.

Reasons Stated by Tax Planning and Advisory Services on the Existence of Sin Tax

A sin tax's principal goal is to discourage people from engaging in actions damaging themselves and society. They intend to make such items and services inaccessible or prohibitively expensive for customers by imposing a substantial tax rate. The traditional "Law of Demand" justifies a Sin Tax. The quantity of a thing purchased varies inversely with its price. In other terms, the lower the cost of an item, the higher its demand. Cigarettes are quite inexpensive across most East Asian countries, and this region is home to the majority of the world's smokers, including a sizable proportion of teenage smokers.

There have been cases where a sin tax has worked. For instance, in Mexico, consumption of taxed items has decreased; in England, the use of sugary beverages has reduced since the charge was implemented. The second reason for imposing a sin tax is to generate revenue. Governments rely on sin taxes to earn a large amount of their revenue. This revenue can assist the government in supporting welfare programs to combat the consequences of these vices. This revenue can help the government support welfare programs to combat the consequences of these vices.

Learn What Tax Planning and Advisory Services Have to State About the Pros, Cons of Sin Tax

Pros 

The term "sin tax" refers to the purpose of the tax. The idea is to raise prices to discourage people from consuming too many sweet and cigarette items. Tobacco and sugar consumption has been related to a number of medical issues. If cigarette and sugary product use can be regulated or minimized, it is envisaged that the additional expenses associated with healthcare assistance for disorders and diseases related to excessive use of these items can be controlled.

Sugary products and tobacco users impose a larger economic and social burden by compelling others to cover medical treatment for illnesses associated with such usage. This is true in nations where healthcare is provided by the government or in an insurance system where charges rise in tandem with healthcare spending.

Also Read : Advantages of Filing Excise Taxes

Cons 

The application of a sin tax may pave the way for such things to be smuggled illegally and then sold on the black market since low-income citizens will look for other ways to avoid the tax. Critics of the sin tax claim that people discriminate against the lower classes and that taxing a commodity such as sugary drinks or cigarettes doesn't account for the ability to pay, as poor people pay a higher percentage of their earnings as tax. Sin taxes do not have the desired impact on consumer behavior, as tax supporters claim. Increasing smokers' proclivity to consume high-tar, high-nicotine cigarettes, for example, may have limited success when the per-pack price is doubled.

The Bottomline

Sin Tax is fresh to the GCC area, and the effect of such levies can only be determined when they are introduced. Retail and hotel industries will be disproportionately affected by such a levy. Contact Fortius Consulting Services, one of the best business consulting services, if you want to know about Sin Tax.