The 55th GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, has issued a clarification on the taxability of popcorn.

According to the clarification, ready-to-eat popcorn is taxed at 5%, pre-packaged popcorn is subject to a 12% GST, and caramel popcorn attract an 18% GST.

The department believes that this classification will eliminate confusion around the tax liability on popcorn products.

After the meeting, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned, “We had a wide-ranging discussion on caramelised popcorn. All states agreed that items with added sugar are placed under a separate tax bracket.”

Currently, savory snacks like namkeens are taxed at 12%, while confectionery items, including sweet snacks, are charged at 18%.

There is no new tax being introduced on popcorn; the clarification just provides more precise guidelines.

In the same meeting, the GST Council also discussed the imposition of GST on quick commerce, e-commerce, and food delivery apps. However, Sitharaman confirmed that no decision has been made yet and urged everyone to refrain from speculating on the matter until a final decision is reached.

Catch all developments related to GST Council meet here