Exempt supplies for GST are specific goods and services not subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST/HST), meaning no tax is charged to the customer, and businesses cannot claim Input Tax Credits (ITCs) on related expenses. Common examples include financial services, residential rent, health/medical services, and basic groceries.
List of exempted goods under GST in India:
It is the supply of goods and services that does not attract GST and allows no claim on ITC. Example: Bread, fresh fruits, fresh milk and curd etc. Services Tax Act, and includes non-taxable supply.
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.
Exempt supply includes the provision of financial services, sale and lease of residential properties and local supply of investment precious metals.
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.
GST-Free Items:
Fresh fruits, fresh milk, curd, bread, etc. Exports and supplies made to SEZ units or SEZ developers, of both goods and services. Grains, salt, jaggery, etc. Alcohol used for human consumption, natural gas, petrol and its products, etc.
Common Examples of GST Exempt Transactions:
Financial services – Most banking services, interest payments, and insurance premiums. Residential rent – Rental income from residential properties. Donated goods and services – Items or services that are given away without payment.
These include, for example, the supply of residential accommodation in a dwelling, certain forms of local passenger transport, certain educational services, childcare services, and financial services.
The GST Council, a constitutional body, oversees the GST regime. They make key decisions on tax rates, exemptions, and policies. Furthermore, the CGST Act and IGST Act provide the legal foundation for GST implementation.
Supply of goods or services can either be taxable or tax-exempt. Taxable supplies are goods and services that attract GST. Tax-exempt supplies include supply of goods or services that belong to a specific category mentioned in the GST Act.
The GST/HST break includes certain qualifying goods, such as:
supply of goods or services or both which is not leviable to tax under the CGST or IGST Act. Examples could be transactions in money, supply of liquor or narcotic substances, specified 5 petroleum products: crude petroleum, petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, and natural gas.
Office supplies, equipment, rental costs, and professional services are examples of expenses on which input tax can be claimed. Further, input tax cannot be claimed on the following expenses: private use, non-business entertainment, and motor vehicle expenses.
Common BAS Excluded items include wages, super, bank transfers, owner drawings, income tax payments, fines, donations, and certain government charges. Use “BAS Excluded” in Xero for genuinely out-of-scope items, and use GST or GST-free codes for reportable sales and purchases.
Items not taxed generally include most staple groceries (unprepared food), ** prescription medications**, certain essential clothing/school supplies (often during holidays), prosthetic devices, and purchases made by non-profits or governments, but this varies by location, with prepared foods, electronics, and luxuries usually taxed; look for state-specific sales tax holidays for temporary exemptions on items like clothing or emergency supplies.
These include bank transfers between accounts, stamp duty, depreciation and salary/wages. These are purchases/sales that have a 0% GST rate. Examples include, purchasing items from overseas (exports); purchasing items from within Australia that are not subject to GST, eg. fresh food, some education.
These GST exemptions are aimed at making essential commodities affordable to the common ma,n but at the same time enable the businesses to benefit their respective communities without an extra tax burden.
Exempt supplies are goods and services which are not subject to GST. You do not include these supplies in your GST return.