INDIA’S GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST) – ARE CONSUMERS SATISFIED?

On July 1, 2017, India replaced their Value-Added Tax (VAT) with a Goods and Services Tax (GST). When compared with the GST of other nations, India's GST is regarded as complex in that it comprises four major indirect tax rates and is a dualbased tax with revenue equally shared by the central and state governments. Research indicates that consumer satisfaction with the new tax is quite low. The present study uses survey methodology to investigate the level of satisfaction by India's consumers with the current GST and determines whether consumer satisfaction has changed from similar research conducted three years earlier. Results indicate that most consumers are unsatisfied with the GST and want changes. Further, the degree of satisfaction has not improved from the 2018 study.