TOY GUNS

GST reforms shall lead to a negative impact on the toy industry : Toymakers Toys ranging between remote-controlled cars and chess sets attract an average indirect tax of around 6%. Traditional toys, which constitute about 90% of all toys sold in the country, are exempted from excise, while some states levy VAT of 5-6%. Under the new regime, a board game falls under a higher tax slab while tax on a toy gun is lesser. Are toy guns more important than educational games like scrabble for enhancing a child's mental abilities? The question is haunting most toy makers. Under GST, the proposed three rates are 12% for toys, 18% for electronic toys and 28% for board games such as chess.