Yes, as of September 22, 2025, the 18% GST on individual health and life insurance premiums has been waived (reduced to zero) in India, based on decisions from the 56th GST Council. This exemption applies to new and renewal policies for individuals, including senior citizen plans, reducing total policy costs.
Avail the new GST Amnesty Scheme 2024, introduced via Section 128A for conditional waiver of interest and penalties for tax demands from FY 2017-18 to 2019-20 under Section 73. To qualify, taxpayers must fully pay outstanding tax dues by March 31, 2025.
Answer: If turnover of the entity is less than the limit of Rs. 20 lakhs in a financial year, no tax would be payable. The exemption from payment of tax is applicable to services provided to a business entity having a turnover up to Rs. 20 lakh rupees.
If your GST turnover is below the $75,000 threshold, you may choose to register. But if you do, regardless of your turnover, you must: include GST in the price of most goods and services you sell. claim GST credits for most business purchases you make.
GST rate on all Individual Life Insurance and Individual Health Insurance policies, including reinsurance of the same, has been reduced from 18% to zero and it has come into effect on 22nd September 2025.
Private health insurance is GST-free.
For any standard-rated supplies of goods or services that you make on or after 1 Jan 2024, you must charge GST at 9%. For instance, if you issue an invoice and receive payments for your supply on or after 1 Jan 2024, you must account for GST at 9%.
Customers do not pay GST on goods and services that are GST‑free such as basic food, many medical and health services, some education courses, childcare, certain medical aids, and exports.
The main benefit of being GST registered is that you can claim back GST on your business expenses. If you pay more in GST when buying supplies for your business than you charge your clients, you are eligible for a GST refund.
You have to start charging GST/HST on the supply that made you exceed $30,000. You exceed the $30,000 threshold 1 over the previous four (or fewer) consecutive calendar quarters (but not in a single calendar quarter).
The GST exemption essentially allows the earmarking of transfers, made during lifetime or at death, that either skip a generation or are made in trust for multiple generations.
Businesses are required to register for GST and pay tax on their annual turnover if their annual revenue exceeds Rs. 40 lakhs in the case of goods supplied and Rs. 20 lakhs for the supply of services.
The registration granted under GST can be cancelled for specified reasons. The cancellation can either be initiated by the department on their own motion or the registered person can apply for cancellation of their registration. In case of death of registered person, the legal heirs can apply for cancellation.
The GST Amnesty Scheme under Section 128A grants total waiver of pending interest and penalty amount if the tax dispute amount is paid by an eligible taxpayer on or before March 31, 2025.
Claim the GST Refunds
If the SMB is exporting goods or services or providing them to SEZ, or if the SMB has accumulated ITC as a result of the inverted duty structure, the SMB may submit a refund application with the GST Department and claim the refund.
Subtracting GST from Price
To calculate how much GST was included in the price, divide the total price by 11 ($1000∕11=$90.91). To calculate the price without GST, divide the price by 1.1 ($1000∕1.1=$909.09).
Disadvantages of Voluntary GST Registration
You could get up to: $533 if you are a single individual. $698 if you are married or have a common-law partner. $184 for each child under the age of 19.
If you're a sole trader, and you estimate you'll earn $75,000+ in a 12-month period in self-employed income, you are required to register for and charge GST on your goods and services.
Businesses dealing in goods are exempt from GST if their annual aggregate turnover is below INR 40 lakhs. For businesses in hilly and northeastern states, this threshold is reduced to INR 20 lakhs to address regional challenges. Service providers are exempt from GST if their turnover is under INR 20 lakhs annually.
Key items exempted from GST:
Prepared foods and snacks: Vegetable trays, pre-made meals, salads, sandwiches, chips, candy, granola bars, etc. Dining: Restaurant meals (dine-in, takeout, or delivery). Beverages: Beer, wine, cider, and sake.
The shift to a two-slab system of 5% and 18%, removing the earlier 12% and 28% rates, will make taxation more transparent and easier to follow. At the same time, a 40% on luxury and sin goods such as pan masala, tobacco, aerated drinks, high-end cars, yachts, and private aircraft ensures fairness and revenue balance.
How to Avoid GST on Overseas Purchases Legally
If you look at the efficiency of the GST – in other words, the amount of economic activity that is destroyed for every dollar you raise – the Government's latest tax discussion paper says it is just as inefficient a tax as the income tax. It's much less equitable though.