An 18% GST rate is generally applied to the majority of goods and services in India, including professional, financial, and technical services, as well as many goods. Key entities and services that charge 18% GST include:
GST Slabs for Food & Restaurant (2025)
The majority of food items fall under the 5% GST slab. However, under the GST 2.0 reform, restaurants within hotels are now classified as 'specified premises' and are subject to 18% GST. Standalone restaurants, on the other hand, can choose between charging 5% GST or 18% GST.
This includes many items that were previously taxed at a higher rate, such as mobile phones, air conditioners, refrigerators, televisions, and small cars. Other items that have moved to the 18% slab include consumer durables, small motorcycles, and most electronic components.
If a product is sold at Rs. 1,000 and the GST rate applicable is 18%, then the net price calculated will be = 1,000+ (1,000X(18/100)) = 1,000+180 = Rs. 1,180.
Calculation: Base Price: ₹50,000. GST Amount: ₹50,000 × 18% = ₹9,000. Total Amount: ₹50,000 + ₹9,000 = ₹59,000.
You are eligible for this credit if you are a resident of Canada for income tax purposes at the end of the month before and at the beginning of the month in which the CRA makes a payment (read When your GST/HST credit is paid). In the month before the CRA makes a quarterly payment, you must be at least 19 years old.
Example of Reverse GST Calculation
Interest on Late Payment of GST:
If the taxpayer is unable to pay GST on time due to some reason, an interest is charged on the GST payment. An interest on late payment of GST is of 18% per annum and will be charged for the days after the due date.
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)
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.
Service fees at restaurants are charges included on a guest's bill to cover costs associated with the meal. For instance, restaurant service charges might cover: Automatic gratuities of 18% or upward for parties of six or more. Holiday service fees added during busy seasons to cover increased labor costs.
If you charge GST/HST on your services, you then charge the tax on the total, including the (pre-GST/HST) disbursement.
Unbranded and unpackaged food items such as cereals, pulses, and fresh vegetables are exempt from GST. In contrast, branded and packaged food products attract a 5% or 12% GST, depending on the item and branding status—impacting the applicable food GST rate.
Example
Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) is a provision under GST where the liability to pay tax is on the buyer of goods or services instead of the seller. This method helps the government cover transactions prone to tax evasion or difficult to monitor.
Reverse Charge Rules for Business-to-Business (B2B) Transactions. When intangible services are supplied by a foreign provider to an Australian business (rather than a consumer), GST may not be charged by the overseas supplier. Instead, the reverse charge mechanism applies.
Businesses dealing in goods are exempt from GST if their annual aggregate turnover is below INR 40 lakhs. For businesses in hilly and northeastern states, this threshold is reduced to INR 20 lakhs to address regional challenges. Service providers are exempt from GST if their turnover is under INR 20 lakhs annually.
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.
Which products are eligible for the GST exemption? Eligible items include prepared foods (e.g., vegetable trays, pre-made meals), restaurant meals, snacks, children's clothing and footwear, children's toys, books, print newspapers, and Christmas trees, among others.
You must register your business for Value Added Tax (VAT) if the total value of taxable goods or services is more than R1 million in a 12-month period, or is expected to exceed this amount. A business may also register voluntarily if the income earned in the past 12-month period exceeded R50 000.
Using invoices, each seller pays VAT on their sales and passes the buyer an invoice that indicates the amount of tax paid excluding deductions (input tax). Buyers who themselves add value and resell the product pay VAT on their own sales (output tax).
Certain goods and services are exempt from VAT. This means that they are not subject to VAT and therefore, do not incur the standard 20% VAT charge. Exempt goods and services include insurance, education, and health services.