The maximum Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate in India is generally 28%, applied to luxury and demerit goods (like cars, tobacco, and aerated drinks), often with an added compensation cess. However, some reports indicate a 40% rate may apply to specific, highly taxed items.
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
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.
Businesses are required to register for GST and pay tax on their annual turnover if their annual revenue exceeds Rs. 40 lakhs in the case of goods supplied and Rs. 20 lakhs for the supply of services.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions will be $15,000,000 per individual and $30,000,000 for married couples, indexed for inflation. Without this legislation, the exemption would have reverted to about $7,000,000 per person.
You must register for the GST/HST. Your effective date of registration is no later than the day of the supply that made you exceed $30,000. You have to start charging GST/HST on the supply that made you exceed $30,000.
$75,000 Threshold for Businesses
Even if you don't hit this figure yet, it's essential to monitor your revenue closely. The ATO requires registration if you either: Have a current GST turnover of $75,000 or more. Expect your turnover to reach $75,000 in the next 12 months.
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.
GST Exemption Limit
Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India, businesses whose annual revenue exceeds specific thresholds are required to register and pay GST. Currently, the GST Exemption Limit is set at Rs. 40 lakhs for goods and Rs. 20 lakhs for services.
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.
GST Voucher – Cash
You must be aged 21 and above in 2025; Your Income Earned in 2023 as assessed by IRAS (Assessable Income (AI) for the Year of Assessment (YA) 2024) must not exceed $39,000; The Annual Value (AV) of your home (as indicated on your NRIC) as at 31 December 2024 must not exceed $31,000; and.
When your GST/HST credit is paid. You will get your annual GST/HST credit, which was calculated using information from your 2024 tax return, in four payments. The CRA will make these payments on the 5th day of July and October 2025, and of January and April 2026.
You have a choice to register or not if it's less than that. You must register for GST if you reach the $75,000 turnover threshold or if it looks likely that you will exceed it. Once you've passed the turnover threshold, you must register within 21 days.
The New GST Rate Structure
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%).
(1) Every deposit made towards tax, interest, penalty, fee or any other amount by a person by internet banking or by using credit or debit cards or National Electronic Fund Transfer or Real Time Gross Settlement or by such other mode and subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, shall be ...
But persons who are engaged exclusively in the business of supplying goods or services or both that are not liable to tax or wholly exempt from tax or an agriculturist, to the extent of supply of produce out of cultivation of land are not liable to register under GST.
In conclusion, the minimum GST registration limit for mandatory GST registration in India is Rs. 40 lakh for most businesses, with a lower threshold limit for GST registration of Rs. 10 lakh applicable in special category states.
If you identify that you have exceeded the threshold amount, then you must register for GST within 21 days. You can also choose to register for GST if you don't meet the registration turnover thresholds. If you choose to register, you must generally stay registered for at least 12 months.
If your business is a part-time gig, or you don't earn more than $30,000 per year in revenue yet, you'd be considered a “small supplier” and won't need to charge your clients for GST/HST. If business picks up, or you decide to take the plunge and go at it full-time, you'll need to start charging these taxes.
Answer: If turnover of the entity is less than the limit of Rs. 20 lakhs in a financial year, no tax would be payable. The exemption from payment of tax is applicable to services provided to a business entity having a turnover up to Rs. 20 lakh rupees.
Monthly Reporting
Businesses with a GST turnover of $20 million or more, or those required by the ATO, must report monthly. This means you'll need to lodge your BAS and pay GST by the 21st of each month. If a due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, you have until the next business day to lodge and pay.
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).
Cash Transaction Limit: Under Section 269ST, receiving over ₹2 lakh in cash per transaction/day is prohibited. Exceptions: Payments to government authorities, agricultural income, or banking channels. Penalties: Violations may attract severe penalties.