GST mop-up slows in November

Gross collections down 4%, up 0.7% without cess

- KULDEEP SINGH

THE SLASHING OF Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for as many as 375 items in the second half of September has slowed the revenue collections from the comprehensive indirect tax, despite the festive season that immediately followed.

Gross GST collections came in at ₹1.75 lakh crore in November (largely October transactions), down 4% on year and 10.7% on month, according to official data released on Monday.

The November GST receipts were the lowest since September 2024 (₹1.73 lakh crore).

Exclusive of the proceeds of the compensation cess, which partly collapsed into a 40% special rate for demerit goods, November GST revenues were up 0.7% on year on a gross basis to ₹1.7 lakh crore.

Pertinently, tax collections from the domestic market shrank (-2.3%), while revenue from imports through the integrated GST (IGST) rose 10.2% on year.

Tax experts noted that the rise in volume of purchases could not fully offset the adverse effect of rate cuts on GST collections.

Gross GST receipts grew 4.6% on year in October 2025, and 8.5% in November, 2024.

Net GST revenue in November 2025 grew 1.3% to ₹1.52 lakh crore with refunds contracting 4% to ₹18,196 crore.