In August, India collected Rs 1.86 lakh crore as Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is 6.5% more compared to the same month last year, as per the data specified. But the number is not more than July’s Rs 1.96 crore.
The highest-ever GST collection at Rs 2.37 lakh crore was seen in April 2025.
The gross domestic revenue in August surged to 9.6% to Rs 1.37 lakh crore, and the tax collected via imports has dropped to 1.2% to Rs 49,354 crore. Refunds paid out by the government tumbled 20% year-on-year to Rs 19,359 crore. Net GST revenue stood at Rs 1.67 lakh crore, marking a 10.7% growth.
Among smaller states, Sikkim (39%), Meghalaya (35%), and Nagaland (33%) witnessed the fastest growth in GST revenue.
Among the larger states, Maharashtra collected Rs 28,900 crore (+10%), Karnataka Rs 14,204 crore (+15%), Tamil Nadu Rs 11,057 crore (+9%), and Uttar Pradesh Rs 9,086 crore (+10%). While Chandigarh (-12%), Manipur (-24%), and Jharkhand (-1%) reported a decline in collections.
Upcoming 56th GST Council Meeting
The latest figures are released just ahead of the important 56th GST Council meeting scheduled for September 3–4. During this meeting, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and state finance ministers will discuss the rationalisation of tax rates. One significant proposal under consideration is to transition to a simpler two-slab tax structure, consisting of rates of 5% and 18%.
Concerning the rate rationalisation, compensation cess, and insurance taxation, the council will take up the reports from three groups of Ministers.
Next Generation Amendments by Diwali
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the “next generation reforms” in GST will be revealed by Diwali this year. He cited that these amendments shall make common taxpayers at ease and support small and medium businesses.
The GST system, which was rolled out in 2017, has now finished 8 years, and the forthcoming amendments are anticipated to be one of the biggest revisions since its inception.
GST Collections for August 2025
