India’s GST collections rise 14.8% to ₹1.99 lakh crore in August

India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 14.8% year-on-year to ₹1,99,853 crore in August, according to official data released on September 1. 

Net GST collections increased 8.3% year-on-year to ₹1.68 lakh crore in August, compared with ₹1.55 lakh crore in the corresponding month last year. 

Total refunds, however, surged 67.9% to ₹31,795 crore during the month, from ₹18,935 crore a year earlier. 

GST revenue from domestic transactions grew 9.3% year-on-year to more than ₹1.37 lakh crore, while revenue from imports rose 29% to ₹62,604 crore. 

The gross Central GST (CGST) collection stood at ₹38,413 crore, while State GST (SGST) collections amounted to ₹46,316 crore. Integrated GST (IGST) collections were more than ₹1.15 lakh crore during August. 

The latest data puts gross monthly GST collections close to the ₹2-lakh crore mark, driven by growth in both domestic collections and overall revenue.

Despite the sharp rise in gross collections, the higher refunds moderated the growth in net GST revenue, which stood at ₹1.68 lakh crore, up 8.3% from a year earlier. 

Manoj Mishra , Partner and Tax Controversy Management Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat, said, "The August GST collections provide a strong corroborative signal to India's better-than-expected 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of FY27, reaffirming that economic momentum has remained resilient despite global uncertainties."

He said, "The near-₹2 lakh crore gross GST collection reflects the continued strength of manufacturing, investment-led activity and the formal economy, complementing the robust GDP performance driven by higher capital formation and industrial expansion. That said, the quality of collections warrants closer attention. While gross GST revenue expanded by 14.8% year-on-year, domestic collections grew 9.3%, whereas import-related GST surged 29%, indicating that trade-linked activity continues to make a disproportionately higher contribution to revenue buoyancy. Simultaneously, the 67.9% increase in refunds moderated net GST growth to 8.3%, underscoring that faster refund processing is supporting business liquidity while tempering headline revenue gains. From a policy standpoint, the data suggests that GST has evolved beyond a tax collection mechanism into a real-time economic barometer, with sustained compliance, formalisation and investment activity providing a durable foundation for revenue growth going forward."