September 4, 2025 7:43 PM
Sweet or salted, popcorn now under single 5% GST slab
The GST Council has ruled that all varieties of popcorn will now attract a uniform 5% GST under the new regime. The decision ends years of confusion over how popcorn should be taxed. Earlier, loose salted popcorn was charged 5% GST, packaged or branded variants attracted 12%, while caramel-flavoured popcorn drew 18%. Multiplex operators had long sought uniform treatment, arguing that popcorn sold at cinema counters is “freshly prepared” and should be taxed like restaurant services at 5%, i...