Non-GST or exempted goods in India include essential, unprocessed, and specific items that do not attract GST, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, curd, unbranded food items (rice, wheat), salt, bread, and raw materials like silk and jute. Other non-GST items include live animals, books, newspapers, children's drawing books, human blood, contraceptives, earthen pots, and handloom products.
Key items exempted from GST:
There are only minimal items which are not reportable for GST purposes. These include bank transfers between accounts, stamp duty, depreciation and salary/wages. These are purchases/sales that have a 0% GST rate.
Books, maps, newspapers, journals, non-judicial stamps, postal items, live animals (except horses), beehives, human blood, semen, bangles, chalk sticks, contraceptives, earthen pots, props used in pooja (including idols, bindi, kumkum), kites, organic manure, and vaccines.
Certain goods and services are exempt from GST due to their essential nature. This exemption applies based on the type of supply, not the supplier. Example: Healthcare services, educational services, and public utility services (e.g., water supply) are exempt from GST.
Common BAS Excluded items include wages, super, bank transfers, owner drawings, income tax payments, fines, donations, and certain government charges. Use “BAS Excluded” in Xero for genuinely out-of-scope items, and use GST or GST-free codes for reportable sales and purchases.
Common Examples of GST Exempt Transactions:
Financial services – Most banking services, interest payments, and insurance premiums. Residential rent – Rental income from residential properties. Donated goods and services – Items or services that are given away without payment.
GST is a 10% tax added to most goods and services sold in Australia, but not everything in the food and beverage sector is treated equally. Some items are GST-free, while others are fully taxable, and understanding the difference can have a direct impact on your pricing, bookkeeping, and compliance.
Goods and services exempted from VAT are:
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.
Exempt supplies under GST include nil-rated supplies, supplies wholly or partially exempted by government notification, and non-taxable supplies like alcoholic liquor for human consumption. Exempt goods and services do not attract GST, and input tax credit (ITC) for such supplies cannot be claimed or utilized.
The GST/HST break includes certain qualifying goods, such as:
The GST Council, a constitutional body, oversees the GST regime. They make key decisions on tax rates, exemptions, and policies. Furthermore, the CGST Act and IGST Act provide the legal foundation for GST implementation.
It is the supply of goods and services that does not attract GST and allows no claim on ITC. Example: Bread, fresh fruits, fresh milk and curd etc. Services Tax Act, and includes non-taxable supply.
Fresh fruits, fresh milk, curd, bread, etc. Exports and supplies made to SEZ units or SEZ developers, of both goods and services. Grains, salt, jaggery, etc. Alcohol used for human consumption, natural gas, petrol and its products, etc.
You have to start charging GST/HST on the supply that made you exceed $30,000. You exceed the $30,000 threshold 1 over the previous four (or fewer) consecutive calendar quarters (but not in a single calendar quarter).
GST-Free Items:
If you make $75,000 or more in business income, you're required to register for and charge GST (we'll cover this in a sec). This means that you charge an additional 10% on top of your regular fees, which you record and pay to the government when you lodge your next Business Activity Statement (BAS).
How often you need to lodge a BAS as a sole trader comes down to your annual turnover: You don't need to lodge a BAS if your turnover is less than $75,000 and you're not registered for GST. You should lodge annually if your turnover is less than $75,000, but you voluntarily register for GST.
Ensure your business is operating within the state only. Choose an e-commerce platform that allows online selling without GST registration. Some platforms include Flipkart, eBay, Amazon, etc. Create your account on your preferred platform and make a comprehensive product listing.
The Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST) are broadly based consumption tax assessed on the value added to goods and services. It applies to all goods and services that are bought and sold for use or consumption in foreign tax jurisdiction.
Office supplies, equipment, rental costs, and professional services are examples of expenses on which input tax can be claimed. Further, input tax cannot be claimed on the following expenses: private use, non-business entertainment, and motor vehicle expenses.