Major GST reforms effective October 1, 2025, focus on simplifying the tax structure to a primary 5% and 18% slab system, reducing rates on essentials while increasing taxes on luxury goods to 40%. Key changes include mandated Invoice Management System (IMS) usage, hard-locked GSTR-3B liability fields, and the introduction of a "track & trace" mechanism for specific goods.
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.
The CRA will make these payments on the 5th day of July and October 2025, and of January and April 2026.
What is changing? Starting from December 1, 2025, the GST portal will enforce a hard stop on filing old returns. Businesses will be permanently barred from filing any GST return (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9) that is more than three years past its original due date.
GST Revenue Rises to Rs. 1.96 Lakh Crore in October 2025 | Press Release.
As of 2025, the GST rate in Singapore is 9% for all taxable goods and services (except for nil-rated). With the GST rate change, as laid out by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), it has become even more important to be at par with the recent amendments.
0.7% growth in GST Collections for November 2025 on the sidelines of an 8% GDP growth tailwind. Indias Gross GST collections for the month of November stood at Rs 1,70,276 crore, up 0.7% year on year. GST collection was over Rs 1.69 lakh crore in November 2024.
Major highlight was simplification of tax rates into two main slabs (5% & 18%) by removing 12% and 28%. Sin goods will be taxed at a new 40% GST. These changes are now live with notifications by the CBIC passed on 17th September 2025.
Effective October 2025 period onwards, a new section for "Import of Goods" has been introduced in IMS wherein the Bill of Entry (BoE) filed by the taxpayer for import of goods including import from SEZ, will be made available in the IMS for taking allowed action on individual BoE.
GST law also provides for grant of provisional refund of 90% of the total refund claim, in case the claim relates for refund arising on account of zero rated supplies. The provisional refund would be paid within 7 days after giving the acknowledgement.
Payment amounts are recalculated every July
For example, the information from your 2024 tax return determines the GST/HST credit amount you get for the payment period from July 2025 to June 2026. You could get up to: $533 if you are a single individual. $698 if you are married or have a common-law partner.
In order to qualify for this, you have to have worked in 2023 and had an income below $150,000. You also qualify if you received Employment Insurance, paid EI premiums or made CPP contributions. You should receive this via cheque or direct deposit by April 2025.
GST and HST Payment Dates for 2025-2026
July 4, 2025 (first increased payment) October 3, 2025. January 5, 2026. April 3, 2026.
Barring of GST Return on expiry of three years
The GST network issued another advisory on 7th June 2025, implementing the rule of time-barring of GST return filing beyond three years from the due date. By this update, taxpayers will not be able to file GST returns after three years from the due date of such return.
The October 2025 GST amendments introduce two key compliance tightening measures — a new penalty for Track & Trace violations and revised pre-deposit rules for appeals.
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.
Total Net GST revenue for October 2025 stands at ₹1,69,002 crore, which is 0.6% higher(monthly growth) and 7.1% higher (yearly growth) than the corresponding period last year at ₹1,68,054 crore.
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%.
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.
Key Changes at a Glance: New GST Rates
This means that the messy middle ground, the 12% and 28% slabs, is gone. Products once taxed at those rates will now either slide down to 5% or 18%, or move up to 40% depending on their category.
GST Notification 8/2025-Central Tax dt. 23-January-2025
This waiver applies to registered persons who failed to submit the required reconciliation statement (FORM GSTR-9C) along with the annual return but submit it before March 31, 2025.
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.