new delhi, Aug. 4 -- The spectre of profiteering is holding back a new round of tax cuts, as the federal council for indirect taxes fears businesses will pocket the savings instead of passing them on. At stake is lower taxes on insurance premiums and an end to the 12% GST slab, two proposals that have gained broad support in recent times. The caution stems from the previous experience of some real estate, multiplex and consumer goods companies raising prices when taxes were cut, denying benefit to the consumer, two people familiar with the matter said. The national anti-profiteering body formed as an interim measure to check such practices was wound up in November 2022, and no suitable alternative is in place yet. "The ways of ensuring that businesses pass on the benefit of tax cuts to the consumer will get built into any decision on further lowering taxes. The council will ensure that the benefit will be passed on to consumers, or there will be no tax cut. If businesses cannot ensure that the tax relief meant for the consumer is passed on to them, why should the exchequer sacrifice revenue that could be used for welfare and development?" said one of the persons quoted above, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Queries emailed to the finance ministry and the GST Council Secretariat on Friday seeking comments remained unanswered. The standoff highlights a key challenge for the council: balancing the desire for economic stimulus and consumer relief with the need to prevent companies from undermining the policy's intent. While some experts believe market competition will force businesses to pass on the benefits, the council remains cautious, with state ministers previously voicing concerns. The GST Council is keen on reducing tax rates on life and health insurance, and shifting many products in the 12% slab to 5% under a tax rate rationalization drive. The concerns on profiteering have come up in previous GST Council meetings and if they persist, the council is unlikely to go ahead with the proposed tax cuts, the two people said. "Members of the GST Council from all states are very sensitive to this issue and some have aired their concerns at meetings in the past," the person cited earlier said, adding discussions are on at the level of political leaders, and a final proposal is yet to be crystallized. Kerala finance minister K.N. Balagopal and Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna have raised concerns around profiteering with the GST Council chairperson and Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in recent council meetings, as per publicly available information about the meetings. The concern is that an increase in the base price of products, which companies are free to revise in a free market economy, cancels the benefit to the consumer from a tax cut. In the past, the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) has investigated several high-profile cases, involving Hindustan Unilever, Indiabulls Real Estate, and Patanjali Ayurved. Experts believe efficient markets will ensure that firms compete in terms of price and quality to retain their market share. "The majority of the products in the 12% slab are consumer products and consumers are very price-sensitive. Market forces play a key role in making sure that businesses transfer the benefits of tax rate reduction to consumers," said MS Mani, partner, indirect taxes, Deloitte India....