In India, the highest GST rate is currently 40%, applied to a specific, limited set of goods. For registration, the threshold is ₹40 lakh annual turnover for businesses dealing in goods and ₹20 lakh for service providers in normal states. For special category states, these limits are lower at ₹20 lakh and ₹10 lakh, respectively.
The GST registration turnover limit is ₹40 lakhs for goods, ₹20 lakhs for services, and ₹10 lakhs for special category states.
Payment amounts are recalculated every July
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.
The 40% GST slab is now the highest GST rate in India and applies to a very specific set of goods and services. If you've been searching for clarity on 40% GST items, the complete 40% GST list, and what this means for your purchases and business decisions, this article covers it all in detail.
The GST rates in India have been simplified to three main slabs: 5%, 18%, and 40%. The 5% rate applies to essentials and common household goods, the 18% rate is the new standard for most consumer products and services, and the 40% rate is for luxury and "sin" goods.
Types of GST in India
CGST (Central Goods and Services Tax) SGST (State Goods and Services. IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) UTGST (Union Territory Goods and Services Tax)
Maximum marginal rate is the highest rate of tax at any income level. This means for those with incomes between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, 39% will be the highest applicable tax rate, and for those with incomes above Rs 5 crore, it will be 42.74% — the highest tax rate since 1992.
In India, the 30% income tax rate generally applies to individuals earning above ₹24 Lakhs (under the old regime/default for some) or ₹15 Lakhs (under the new optional regime for FY 2025-26) and to firms (as a flat rate), while certain income types like lottery winnings, online gaming, and virtual digital assets (like crypto) are taxed at a flat 30% for everyone, regardless of total income.
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%.
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.
Here's what you need to know about the relevant threshold and how it affects your business or enterprise. The GST threshold for 2025 is $75,000 in annual GST turnover for most businesses. If your GST turnover exceeds this amount in any rolling 12-month period, you must register for GST within 21 days.
The tax is a 5% tax imposed on the supply of goods and services that are purchased in Canada, except certain items that are either "exempt" or "zero-rated": For tax-free — i.e., "zero-rated" — sales, GST is charged by suppliers at a rate of 0% so effectively there is no GST collected.
GST Registration Threshold Limits (As of 2025)
₹40 lakhs: This is the threshold for GST registration in most Indian states. ₹20 lakhs: For special category states like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand.
Check if your business needs to register for GST
You must register for GST if: your business has a GST turnover of $75,000 or more. your non-profit organisation has a GST turnover of $150,000 or more.
The GST limit for composition schemes in India is Rs. 1.5 crore turnover per annum. Composition schemes are voluntary schemes available for small businesses with annual turnovers up to Rs. 1.5 crore who can opt for fixed tax rates instead of regular GST rates.
Taxes on aerated drinks, tobacco and luxury goods will now come under the 28 percent tax bracket under GST, so it will get costlier. Real Estate will also get expensive as it will now attract a GST of 12% as opposed to 6%.
The New GST Rate Structure
The old four-slab structure (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) has been simplified. The 12% and 28% slabs were eliminated and replaced with a new structure, which is now primarily 0%, 5%, 18%, and a 40% rate for luxury and “sin” goods.
40% – This highest tax rate applies to luxury and non-essential goods like high-end vehicles, expensive consumer goods, and services like casinos, gambling, and certain entertainment services.
According to government reports, while over 7 crore people file tax returns, only a fraction of them actually pay taxes because many fall below the taxable income threshold or use deductions to reduce liability.
In her 2025 Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shared big news. Under the new regime, if you earn up to Rs 12 lakh, you will not have to pay any income tax. Salaried taxpayers get an extra benefit too. The standard deduction, which was Rs 50,000 before, has now gone up to Rs 75,000 for the new regime.
“At a salary of one crore, the average tax rate is 29.26% in the New Regime, compared to 32% in the Old Regime. As the salary increases, the average tax rate in both regimes also increases, reaching 38.42% in the New Regime and 42.46% in the Old Regime for ₹10 crore income,” the CEO of Tax2win added.
Amitabh Bachchan tops the list by paying 120 crore in tax. Shah Rukh Khan, Thalapathy Vijay, Salman Khan, Virat Kohli and many others also pay huge amounts every year. These numbers come from public reports and estimates, but they clearly show how big the earnings of Indian superstars really are.