As of September 22, 2025, the GST 2.0 reform significantly overhauled the tax structure, simplifying it from four main slabs to a primarily three-tier system (0%, 5%, 18%) with a special 40% rate for luxury/sin goods. Key changes include removing the 12% and 28% slabs, lower rates on electronic appliances, and stricter 30-day e-invoice filing rules.
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.
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%).
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. Many essentials, including certain medicines and foods, are now zero-rated, while several items see reduced rates.
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).
The CRA will make these payments on the 5th day of July and October 2025, and of January and April 2026.
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.
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.
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.
By lowering GST slabs to 5% on several goods and rationalising rates in transport and allied sectors, the reforms aim to reduce costs for consumers, ease compliance for traders, and enhance competitiveness for Indian businesses.
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. you provide taxi or limousine travel (including ride-sourcing services like Uber or DiDi) regardless of your GST turnover.
Using the wrong tax codes or accounting method
Many GST mistakes are the result of using incorrect tax codes or the wrong accounting method: Tax codes: If a GST-free sale is coded as taxable in your accounting system, you'll pay GST unnecessarily. If a taxable sale is coded GST-free, you'll underpay.
Key Categories of Goods under 40% GST Slab
The GST/HST break includes certain qualifying goods, such as:
GST-Free Items:
GST and HST Payment Dates for 2025-2026
July 4, 2025 (first increased payment) October 3, 2025. January 5, 2026. April 3, 2026.
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.
Modes of Payment for the 2025 GSTV – Cash
By doing so, eligible citizens will receive their GSTV – Cash earlier, from 6 August 2025. Citizens without PayNow-NRIC linked bank accounts but have a DBS/POSB, OCBC, or UOB bank account, may provide their bank account information at the govbenefits website by 28 July 2025.
New GST Rate of 9% in 2024
Come 1 Jan 2024, the GST rate will be raised from 8% to 9%, as part of the two-step GST rate change announced by the Minister for Finance in Budget 2022. The first step from 7% to 8% had taken place earlier on 1 Jan 2023.
How to Avoid GST on Overseas Purchases Legally
When to expect your refund. You can claim a refund if your net tax (line 109 of your GST/HST return) is a negative amount. We normally issue refunds within 4 weeks of receiving your return.