GSTAT Rajkot Bench Starts Functioning

The GST Appellate Tribunal's Rajkot bench has begun functioning, with authorities issuing a trade notice on March 18 to inform businesses and tax professionals that the long-awaited forum is now operational in Gujarat. The tribunal is working from its office at the RK Iconic building on 150 Feet Ring Road in Rajkot. Officials said appeals can be filed through the GSTAT online portal, which was rolled out last year, and a toll-free helpline has also been provided to help users facing difficulty...

GSTN Activates Withdrawal Facility For Small Taxpayers To Opt Out Of Simplified Registration Option

As of 21 February 2026, the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has activated the facility to file Form GST REG-32 for taxpayers who wish to opt out of registration under Rule 14A of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Rules.To mitigate compliance burdens, as part of the 'Next Generation GST Reforms', a Simplified GST Registration Scheme for Small and Low-Risk Businesses under Rule 14A was introduced in 2025.Rule 14A provides a simplified registration option for small and low-risk...

GSTN Issues Advisory On RSP-Based Valuation For Tobacco Products

Ahead of the rollout of the Retail Sale Price (RSP)–based valuation mechanism from 1 February 2026, the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has issued an advisory for taxpayers.The advisory provides guidance on reporting taxable value and tax liability under the RSP-based valuation in e-invoices, e-way bills, GSTR-1, GSTR-1A, and the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF).As part of the RSP-based system, GST on notified tobacco products has been computed at 40% and the taxable value will now be...

GST Council Announces Revised Slabs Of 5%, 18% And 40% , Cuts Rates On Small Cars, ACs

The 56th meeting of the GST Council was held on 3rd September, 2025. The GST Council inter-alia made the recommendations relating to changes in GST tax rates.The changes in GST rates on services will be implemented with effect from 22nd September 2025.The changes in GST rates of all goods except pan masala, gutkha, cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and bidi, will be implemented with effect from 22nd September 2025. Further, the Goods and Services Tax...

GST To Remain @5% On Popcorn Sold In Theatres, Clarifies Govt

The Finance Ministry in its 55th Meeting of the GST Council, clarified that ready to eat popcorn which is mixed with salt and spices are classifiable under HS 2106 90 99 and attracts 5% GST if supplied as other than pre-packaged and labelled and 12% GST if supplied as pre-packaged and labelled.However, when popcorn is mixed with sugar thereby changing its character to sugar confectionary (e.g. caramel popcorn), it would be classifiable under HS 1704 90 90 and attract 18% GST. By this...

GST Council Recommends Amendments In Rules Relating To IGST Refunds On Exports & Pilot B2C E-Invoicing

Considering the difficulty being faced by the exporters due to restriction in respect of refund on exports, the 54th GST Council Meeting as a trade facilitation measure, recommended omission of Rule 96(10), rule 89(4A) & rule 89(4B) from CGST Rules, 2017 prospectively, where benefit of the specified concessional/ exemption notifications is availed on the inputs.The Council further clarified that in respect of reassessments through the jurisdictional Customs authorities, “the IGST paid on...

54th GST Council Meet Exempts Grants For Research & Reduced Rates On Specific Items

Out of the several indispensable decisions taken at the 54th GST Council meeting, some of the major items related to rate reduction on several items and formation of two new Group of Ministers (GoMs) to holistically look into the issues pertaining to GST on the life insurance and health insurance, as well as a committee to study Compensation Cess issue.The Union Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman announces that GoM on rate rationalisation will meet soon, and two status reports were...

GST Council Rolls Out Bio-Metric Based Aadhaar Authentication On All-India Basis

The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in the 53rd GST Council Meeting proposed to roll out biometric based aadhaar authentication on an all-India basis.The GST Council recommended to roll-out the biometric-based Aadhaar authentication of registration applicants on pan-India basis in a phased manner. This will strengthen the registration process in GST and will help in combating fraudulent input tax credit (ITC) claims made through fake invoices.“We ran a pilot in Gujarat and in...

GST Council Rolls Out GSTR-1A To Facilitate The Taxpayers To Amend Details In FORM GSTR-1

The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in the 53rd GST Council Meeting proposed to roll out GSTR-1A to facilitate the taxpayers to amend the details in FORM GSTR-1.The Council recommended providing a new optional facility by way of FORM GSTR-1A to facilitate the taxpayers to amend the details in FORM GSTR-1 for a tax period and/ or to declare additional details, if any, before filing of return in FORM GSTR-3B for the said tax period. It will facilitate taxpayer to add any particulars of...

Interest Will Not Be Charged On Amount Available In Electronic Cash Ledger Till Due Date: 53rd GST Council Meeting

The 53rd GST Council meeting happened on June 22, 2024, in New Delhi, nearly eight months after the last one. The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, chaired the 53rd GST Council.The council has recommended the amendment of Rule 88B of CGST Rules, 2017 in respect of interest under Section 50 of CGST Act on delayed filing of returns, in cases where the credit is available in Electronic Cash Ledger (ECL) on the due date of filing the return.The GST Council...

53rd GST Council Meeting: Know Recommendations Relating To GST Rates On Goods & Services

The 53rd GST Council met under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi today.The GST Council made the following recommendations relating to changes in GST tax rates:Uniform IGST Applicable On Components Related To AircraftsA uniform rate of 5% IGST will apply to imports of 'Parts, components, testing equipment, tools and tool-kits of aircrafts, irrespective of their HS classification to provide a fillip to MRO activities...

Regularisation Of Non-Levy Or Short Levy Of GST: 53rd GST Council Meeting

The 53rd GST Council met under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi today. The council proposed the insertion of Section 11A in CGST Act for granting power not to recover duties not levied or short-levitated as a result of general practice under GST Acts.The GST Council recommended inserting a new Section 11A in CGST Act to give powers to the Government, on the recommendations of the Council, to allow regularisation of...