GST Council

CBIC's retrospective omission of CGST Rule 96(10) raises questions over amounts recovered from exporters, with the government urged to return refunds and interest collected under the provision

GST authorities plan to test electronic recording of consumer invoices in select sectors from April 2027, aiming to track retail sales, improve compliance and curb tax evasion

Industry body says proposed removal of GST arrest powers, higher prosecution thresholds and stronger taxpayer safeguards mark a major shift towards trust-based governance

Industry body CII on Sunday described the GST Council's decisions to decriminalise certain offences and rationalise enforcement powers as a significant institutional reform, saying the move marks a shift towards trust-based economic governance and offers a model for India's next generation of economic reforms. On the decisions taken at the GST Council's October 8 meeting, CII said the consensus-driven approach showed how the Centre and states could work together on difficult reforms to improve the relationship between the government and businesses. CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said, "The GST Council's decisions deserve special recognition as a landmark institutional reform. We deeply appreciate the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in advancing this transformation, and the constructive role of state governments in achieving consensus on an issue involving sensitive questions of enforcement, revenue protection and taxpayer .

CBIC's new circulars seek greater clarity in GST notices and adjudication, while easing registration requirements, export payment rules and input tax credit distribution

The next phase of GST reforms, promises simpler registration, quicker refunds and wider input tax credit, but businesses say deeper structural and administrative changes are needed

The simplified GST registration facility will allow small e-commerce sellers to expand across states without setting up physical offices, with detailed notifications expected soon

GST Council proposes curbs on transit-state inspections, while pushing wider e-invoicing, stronger data analytics and a facilitative approach to tax compliance

After process reforms, GST needs road map to shed exclusions

GST refunds under the fast-track route will require officer scrutiny if an earlier refund order is under dispute, potentially delaying working capital relief for businesses

September e-way bill generation rose 1.75 per cent from August to a record 141.53 million, as the GST Council proposed curbs on routine checks of goods moving by road.

From easier input tax credit claims to automated registration and a ₹40-crore cap on penalty-only appeals, the proposed changes seek to reduce compliance friction.

Measures ease compliance through simpler registrations, quicker refunds, wider tax credit access and relief on penalties and enforcement

The GST Council has proposed exempting storage and warehousing services for seeds meant for sowing, along with coffee-curing services provided by coffee curers to cultivators

The GST Council's changes to export definitions and refund rules are expected to benefit IT firms, consulting companies and GCCs by reducing tax disputes and working capital costs

Small online sellers can now use e-commerce platform warehouses to register in other states, while the GST Council has clarified tax treatment for platforms and retained existing rates

Transport industry bodies say the GST Council's decision to limit highway inspections to intelligence-based checks will reduce unnecessary stoppages, delays and penalties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed the new round of GST reforms approved by the GST Council and said its focus was to take faster decisions, lower compliance costs and automated refunds. The prime minister also said that the GST Council's recommendations on removal of arrest provisions, greater decriminalisation and simpler procedures will have a very positive impact. The GST Council on Thursday approved removing the arrest power of tax officials and raising the threshold for prosecution fivefold to Rs 5 crore, while introducing faster and largely automated refunds for taxpayers. "I welcome the new round of GST reforms approved by the GST Council," Modi said in a post on X. "The focus is clear: Faster decisions. Lower compliance costs. Automated refunds. Trust-based administration," he said. Modi said these are in line with the government's constant efforts to make GST more efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly. Announcing the decisions taken at the 57th meet

The GST Council's decision to allow input tax credit on employee group health and life insurance is expected to reduce coverage costs for employers, particularly MSMEs

The FM said the Council has also taken steps to make the movement of goods smoother by limiting inspections, detention and seizure to officers of the supplier or destination state