IPL Franchises Urge Centre to Cut GST on Match Tickets!

Franchises of the Indian Premier League have appealed to the Ministry of Finance to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on match tickets. They have requested that IPL matches be classified strictly as a sporting event rather than entertainment, which would allow GST on tickets to be lowered to 18 percent. Currently, spectators are required to pay as much as 40 percent GST on ticket prices.

Earlier, GST on IPL tickets stood at 28 percent, but it was increased to 40 percent in September last year. Franchise owners argue that the high tax burden is impacting fan attendance and affordability, and have urged the government to reconsider the classification to make live cricket more accessible to the public.