The 2025 GST penalty waiver (Amnesty Scheme 2025) is a relief measure under Section 128A of the CGST Act, introduced via Notification No. 20/2024-Central Tax and active through early 2025. It allows taxpayers to waive interest and penalties on non-fraudulent tax disputes (Section 73 notices) for the financial years 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20 by paying the full tax demand by March 31, 2025.
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.
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.
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%.
The scheme provides an opportunity to employers and insured persons to settle disputes outside courts in a structured and transparent manner. It will remain in operation from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026. For coverage disputes, the scheme applies to both closed and running units.
How can I apply for Tax Amnesty? By logging into your iTax page and going to Amnesty application tab under Debt and Enforcement and making the application. Clicking on the link shared through your Email/SMS which will re-direct you to your iTax page to make the application.
It ends illegal immigration, restores law and order, provides legal status (no amnesty) for certain long-term undocumented immigrants, strengthens the American workforce, modernizes our legal immigration system, and helps pay down the national debt.
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.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 reform, which came into effect from September 22nd, 2025, brought relief for the common people and boosts for businesses. One of the key GST updates under 2.0 reform is that it simplified the GST tax structure from a 4-slab (5%, 12%, 18% and 28%) to a 3-slab (5%, 18% and 40%).
How to Avoid GST on Overseas Purchases Legally
1. Login into GST portal: Navigate to > Services > User Services > My Applications. 2. On Navigating to 'My Applications' page, the taxpayer has to select 'Apply for Waiver Scheme under Section 128A' option under 'Application type' dropdown.
Steps to Apply for the GST Waiver
Here's a simplified breakdown of the process under Section 128A: File an Application on the GST Portal: Apply electronically using FORM GST SPL-01 for non-fraudulent notices or FORM GST SPL-02 for certain orders. Include details of the tax payments made using FORM GST DRC-03.
An offender not paying tax or making short-payments has to pay a penalty of 10% of the tax amount due, subject to a minimum of Rs. 10,000. Therefore, the penalty will be high at 100% of the tax amount when the offender has evaded i.e., where there is a deliberate fraud.
The total of lifetime gifts and the estate are eligible for a lifetime exemption, which is set at $13.99 million in 2025. The exemption amount is indexed for inflation, and was scheduled to be reduced by half after 2025. The higher exemption level was made permanent and slightly increased to $15 million in 2026 by P.L.
The following category of tax persons are exempted from payment of 1% of GST in Cash 1. Registered taxpayers who have paid income tax above Rs 1.00 in Income Tax during the last two years continuously 2. Taxpayers who have zero-rated supplies without payment of duty and claimed refund of more than Rs 1.00 lac 3.
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.
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).
New Deadline: September 30, 2025
A critical change: the $7,500 tax credit (and the $4,000 used EV credit) will expire on September 30, 2025. Any EV purchase or lease finalized on or before that date qualifies; after that, the incentive disappears, regardless of model or eligibility.
When and How Will I Be Paid? 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.
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.
You can claim a GST refund in the following situations, when additional tax is paid or deposited due to errors or omissions. When dealers and deemed export goods or services are subject to refund or refund. Refunds can also be made for purchases made by UN agencies or embassies.
The Constitution guarantees due process rights to all “persons,” not just citizens. This means non-citizens, including undocumented immigrants, are entitled to fair treatment under the law. This includes the right to defend themselves in court.
On 25 October 2025 the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) opened a nationwide visa-amnesty programme that will run until 30 December 2025.
If there is an amnesty announced by the government for the default, then the GST penalty could be conditionally waived off.