In May 2025, India's GST framework saw key procedural updates, including the automatic approval of withdrawal applications for appeals (APL 01W) if filed before final acknowledgment (APL 02), and the locking of invoices in refund applications. These updates are part of broader 2025 reforms to simplify the system into a 5% and 18% structure, reducing tax on everyday essentials.
GST Reforms 2025: Key Changes in GST Rates Across Categories
Key categories have seen rate reductions: daily essentials have dropped from 12%/18% to 5%, agricultural equipment from 12%/18% to 5%, healthcare services to 5% or exempt, and education services are now fully tax-exempt.
For the July 2025–June 2026 benefit year, the maximum annual GST amounts are: $533 – Single individual. $698 – Married or common-law couples. $184 – Per eligible child under 19.
What are the new GST rate slabs for 2025 in India? The slabs under the 2025 Next-Gen GST Reforms are 0% (exemption), 5% and 18%. A new 40% GST slab has been introduced for luxury goods like premium cars and bikes, and sin goods like cigarettes and tobacco.
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%.
How to Avoid GST on Overseas Purchases Legally
The GST Council's latest reforms have reshaped the GST tax slab for the travel and hospitality sector. With international and domestic travel steadily rising, these changes will directly affect how much you spend on air tickets, hotel bookings, dining, and even luxury travel.
Every year, the CRA adjusts federal tax benefits based on inflation. For 2025, the CRA HST credit will rise by 2.7%, starting with the July 2025 GST HST payment. While this increase is lower than 2024's 4.7%, it still brings welcome support for millions across the country.
Tax changes for 2025, largely driven by the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBBA) Act, introduce significant deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, expand the Child Tax Credit, and raise the SALT deduction cap to $40,000, while making several 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions permanent, including the seven tax brackets. Key changes include a $2,200 Child Tax Credit, a $6,000 senior deduction, deductions for qualified tips and overtime, and a permanent standard deduction increase.
Effective October 1st, 2025, a new set of rules for GST return filing will come into effect. This marks the first filing cycle under the GST 2.0 reforms, aimed at improving transparency, control, and accuracy in Input Tax Credit (ITC) management through the Invoice Management System (IMS).
In August 2025, over 1.5 million eligible adult Singaporeans will receive up to $850 in cash as part of GSTV – Cash, depending on their AI for the Year of Assessment (YA) 2024 and the Annual Value (AV) of their home.
India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) system has entered a new era with the rollout of GST 2.0, effective from September 22, 2025. The Council has simplified the structure into a 5% slab for essentials, 18% for standard goods, and 40% for luxury/sin items, replacing the earlier complex categories.
Along with the GST break, the government of Canada is also planning on offering cheques in the amount of $250 to qualifying middle-class families. In order to qualify for this, you have to have worked in 2023 and had an income below $150,000.
Goods and services tax credit
According to the federal government, the maximum annual amount an individual may receive from July 2025 to June 2026 is $533, while a married or common-law couple could see up to $698 combined.
GST Rate and Slab Changes in September 2025
GST rate cuts on 200 items happened from 22nd September 2025. 90% of items in the current 28% slab are moved to the 18% slab. Almost 99% of the items in the 12% slab are moved to the 5% slab.
20th August 2025
Due to the incessant rains in various parts of Maharashtra, the government has extended GSTR-3B due date for July 2025 from 20th August to 27th August 2025.
Under the new income tax regime for 2025-26, any taxable income up to ₹12,00,000 attracts a full rebate of ₹60,000 (under Section 87A), resulting in a nil tax liability.
April 10, 2025, the House adopted the Senate's amended version of the budget resolution, which allows $5.3 trillion in deficit-financed tax cuts (the combination of $3.8 trillion of tax cuts assumed to be “costless” under a current policy baseline plus $1.5 trillion in additional deficits permitted), deficit increases ...
If you are eligible for the 2025 GST Voucher (GSTV) – Cash and/or GSTV – MediSave and have signed up for a previous Government payout (e.g., 2024 GSTV), you will automatically receive your 2025 GSTV – Cash and/or GSTV – MediSave in August 2025. No further action is required on your part.
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).
Compliance & Procedural Changes
From April 1, 2025, Input Service Distributor (ISD) registration will be compulsory for businesses having multiple Goods & Services Tax Identification Numbers (GSTINs). The time limit for the validity of an E-Way bill will be 180 days, and it can be extended to 360 days.
Hungary has the highest tax rate at 27 per cent, while Canada has the lowest tax rate at 5 per cent. All four Asian countries have a tax rate below the OECD average of 19.2 per cent.