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GST collections rose 14.8 per cent in August 2026

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First brief 1 Sep, 14:00 IST Updated 1 Sep, 12:21 IST 1 development 2 min read Latest ↓

The GST Bhavan building in Thiruvananthapuram — Photo: Amitbalani / Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Where it stands

India collected Rs 1,99,853 crore in gross GST in August 2026. The Finance Ministry released this provisional figure on 1 September 2026. The August 2026 collection was 14.8 per cent higher than in August 2025. GST on imports grew 29 per cent to Rs 62,604 crore. GST on sales within India grew 9.3 per cent to Rs 1,37,249 crore. CGST was Rs 38,413 crore and SGST was Rs 46,316 crore. Refunds rose 67.9 per cent to Rs 31,795 crore. Net collection after refunds was Rs 1,68,057 crore, up 8.3 per cent. Gross collection for April to August 2026 was Rs 10.43 lakh crore, up 11 per cent.

Version 1 · rewritten 1 Sep, 14:00 IST

Background

GST is a tax on the sale of goods and services. GST started on 1 July 2017. GST replaced many older taxes. A sale inside one state attracts CGST and SGST. The Centre collects CGST. The state collects SGST. A sale from one state to another attracts IGST. Imports also attract IGST. The Centre collects IGST. The Centre then shares IGST with the states. Monthly figures show how much people are buying. The Centre and every state get a share of this money. Businesses pay GST for July by 20 August. The August figure therefore mainly shows July sales.

How it developed

2017 to July 2026

How it started
GST started on 1 July 2017 under a Union-state Council

GST started across India on 1 July 2017. The GST Council of Union and state ministers recommends the rates. From 22 September 2025, most goods and services fall under two rates, 5 and 18 per cent. Gross collections were Rs 1,94,812 crore in June 2026. Gross collections rose to Rs 2,11,205 crore in July 2026.

GST Council GST Council Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
1 Sep, 12:21 IST

New fact
August 2026 GST collection rises 14.8 per cent to Rs 1,99,853 crore

The Finance Ministry released provisional GST figures for August 2026 on 1 September 2026. Gross collection was Rs 1,99,853 crore. Gross collection was 14.8 per cent higher than the Rs 1,74,116 crore of August 2025. Net collection after refunds was Rs 1,68,057 crore, up 8.3 per cent.

Akashvani News IANS Forbes India

Why it matters for UPSC

GS3 · Public financePrelims · GST

GST collections come under GS Paper 3, public finance and taxation. Keep gross collection (before refunds) separate from net collection (after refunds). Remember the three parts: CGST for the Centre, SGST for the state, IGST for sales between states and for imports.

Key terms

Gross versus net collectionGross collection is all the GST paid in a month. Net collection is gross collection minus refunds. A refund is money the government returns to a taxpayer, such as an exporter in Tiruppur.

IGSTIGST means Integrated GST. IGST applies to sales between states and to imports. The Centre collects IGST for sharing with the states. Example: a Ludhiana factory sells cycles to a shop in Patna. The cycle sale attracts IGST.

CGST and SGSTA sale inside one state attracts two taxes together. CGST is the Centre's share. SGST is the state's share. Example: a shop in Nagpur sells a fan to a Nagpur customer. Maharashtra keeps the SGST on that sale.

Compensation cessCompensation cess was an extra tax on a few goods such as tobacco and pan masala. The money went to a separate compensation cess account. In September 2025 the GST Council kept the cess on tobacco products until loans on that account were repaid. From 1 February 2026 new duties replaced the cess on tobacco and pan masala.

Provisional figureA provisional figure is a first figure released quickly. The government may change the figure a little after later checks. The monthly GST report itself says the numbers are provisional.

Sources (6)

GST Council · official · The GST Council01:23
GST Council · official · Recommendations of the 56th Meeting of the GST Council held at New Delhi, today01:26
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs · official · Know About GST01:28
Akashvani News · official · GST collections witness significant rise of 14.8% to 2 cr01:26
Forbes India · India's August GST Collections Climb 14.8% Despite Sharp Rise in Refunds01:23
IANS · GST collections rise 14.8 pc to nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in August01:25