GST rates for restaurants have been a matter of a lot of discussions and the rates on the same have undergone a series of change at 28th GST Council meeting.
In this write up we will try and give a picture of the tax options available for restaurants under GST:
1. GST Rates on Restaurant Bills
| Type of Restaurants | GST Rate |
| Stand Alone Restaurants | 5% no ITC |
| Restaurants forming part of Hotels where the declared tariff of the accommodation does not exceed Rs 7500 | 5% no ITC |
| Restaurants forming part of Hotels where the declared tariff of the accommodation exceeds Rs 7500 | 18% with ITC |
| Regular Catering at say Company premises | 5% no ITC |
| Event Catering Outdoor catering | 18% with ITC |
2. GST Composition Scheme Rules
Restaurants are required to pay GST at a concessional rate of 5% on the turnover under Composition Scheme subject to following restrictions
- Turnover not to exceed Rs 1.5 Crores (Rs 1 Crore in case of special category States)
- Should not be engaged in any services other than restaurant (special exception carved out for services like interest and exempt services)
- Restaurant cannot make inter-state outward supply of goods
- Cannot supply any items exempt under GST.
- They cannot supply goods through an e-commerce operator
- Restaurants cannot avail any input tax credit
- They cannot collect taxes from the customer
3. Regular Tax Payer V/s Composition dealer
| Particulars | Regular Tax Payer | Composite Tax Payer |
| Registration | Threshold limit – Rs. 20L | Threshold limit – Rs. 1.5 Cr |
| Territory of Business | No restriction on supply | Limited to Intra-State Supply |
| Switch from Regular to Composition or Vice versa | Compliance procedure is high | Once crosses the limit, compulsory registration under regular provisions |
| Input tax credit | Depends on the category | Not entitled to avail the credit |
| Business through e-commerce | Can supply goods through e-commerce | Cannot supply goods through e-commerce |
| Tax collection | Allowed to collect tax from the buyer | Cannot collect tax from the buyer |
| Tax invoice | Can raise a tax invoice for outward supply | Can raise Bill of Supply instead of Tax invoice for outward supply |
| GST returns | Monthly – GSTR 1 & GSTR 3B | Quarterly – Only GSTR 4 |
4. Identify Restaurant under Composition Scheme
- Restaurants opting for the composition scheme must mention the words “composition taxable person, not eligible to collect tax on supplies” on the top of the bill of supply.
- They must also mention the words ‘composition taxable person’ on every notice or signboard prominently displayed at their place of business.
5. Benefits to Restaurant under GST
- Compliance requirement under one law instead of multiple laws
Excise on the manufacture of pastries, service tax on accommodation and restaurant, VAT on restaurant, luxury tax on renting of rooms and entertainment tax on ticket events.
- Credit of GST paid on procurements
Entry Tax paid on machinery, CST on interstate purchases and excise paid on procurement of furniture and packaged foods were not allowed as credit to restaurant owners. With GST, all the taxes paid on such procurements are allowed as credit unless they are required to pay taxes at a concessional rate
- Option to pay taxes under the composition scheme at 5% if the turnover does not exceed Rs 1.5 Crores
- Concessional Rate of 5% (without input tax credit)
- Credit on food or outdoor catering if used in a similar line of business
