GST Helpdesk: An expert answers your questions pertaining to the new tax and its impact

They are treated on a par with any other service provider. The writer will be providing the content for which the publishing house shall give a consideration. This will attract GST @ 18%. The publishing house will sell books using such content which are exempt from GST. 

Since books are exempt from GST, the GST paid to writers will not be available as credit to the publishing houses which will in-turn become a cost and will be passed on to the end consumers by the publishing houses.