The new, upgraded Indian tax system launched on September 22, 2025, is called GST 2.0 (or Next-Gen GST). This major reform simplifies the previous multi-tiered structure into a two-main-slab system (5% and 18%) with a 40% rate for luxury/sin goods to streamline compliance and reduce taxes on essential items.
What are the new changes in GST 2025? Starting September 22, 2025, GST in India will be simplified to primarily two rates: 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate on luxury and sin goods like tobacco and high-end vehicles.
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).
India's GST regime is undergoing a landmark transformation with the 56th GST Council meeting unveiling GST 2.0 - next-generation reforms simplifying tax slabs to 5%, 18%, and 40%. Effective from September 22, 2025, these reforms aim to ease compliance, boost consumption, and fuel economic growth.
GST 2.0 aims to simplify taxation, improve affordability, and strengthen compliance across sectors. With the GST reforms 2025, households benefit from lower prices, while MSMEs and small businesses gain greater clarity and ease of doing business.
You are eligible for a GST refund if you have paid excess tax, exported goods or services, made zero-rated supplies, claimed lower income than presumptive income, or have unutilised input tax credit.
When you have worked out your total GST credits, you can offset them against the amount of GST you are liable to pay to us. If your GST credits are greater than the amount you are liable to pay, you're entitled to a refund.
Eligibility criteria
You are eligible for the GST/HST credit if you meet all of the following conditions: You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes during both periods: In the month before the CRA makes a payment. At the start of the month when a payment is made.
New Structure
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.
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.
How much will I receive in October 2025? It depends on your 2024 adjusted family net income, marital status, and number of children. Maximum amounts are $533 (singles), $698 (couples), and $184 per child.
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.
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%.
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.
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)
What was the decision in 56th GST council meeting? The long-discussed proposal for a two-tier GST structure has now been approved (and implemented starting from 22nd September 2025): 5% GST: Applicable to most essential and everyday goods and services. 18% GST: For higher-value products and services.
Advantages: GST simplifies the tax structure, reduces tax evasion, and eliminates cascading taxes, promoting a unified market. It enhances transparency and compliance while boosting the economy.
The latest reforms mark a major simplification of the GST structure. 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.
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.
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).
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.
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 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.
Excess Payment of GST: If taxpayers have paid more GST than required due to errors, they can claim a refund for the excess amount. This situation often arises from clerical mistakes, miscalculation of tax, or payments made under the wrong tax heads.