Tax Triumph! GST Haul Hits ₹2.01 Lakh Crore—India’s Fiscal Fortunes on the Rise

Image Source: Sarkaritel.com

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections surged to ₹2.01 lakh crore in May 2025, marking a robust 16.4% year-on-year growth and crossing the ₹2 lakh crore threshold for the second consecutive month. This sustained momentum follows April’s record-breaking ₹2.37 lakh crore collection, signaling strong economic activity and improved tax compliance nationwide.

Key Highlights

Historic Back-to-Back Collections: May 2025 marks the first time GST collections have exceeded ₹2 lakh crore in two consecutive months, underlining resilient economic fundamentals.
Imports: GST from imports soared by 25.2% to ₹51,266 crore, reflecting buoyant cross-border trade despite global tariff headwinds.
Domestic Transactions: Domestic GST collections rose 13.7% to about ₹1.50 lakh crore, fueled by robust consumer demand and business activity.
Net Revenue: After accounting for refunds of ₹27,210 crore (down 4% year-on-year), net GST revenue stood at ₹1.74 lakh crore, a 20.4% jump over last year.
State-wise Variation: Major states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu posted strong growth (17–25%), while Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana saw more modest gains (up to 6%), indicating sector-specific and seasonal influences.
Expert Insights: Tax experts highlight that May’s sustained growth—unlike April’s expected spike from year-end reconciliations—signals genuine economic recovery and improved compliance, aided by digital initiatives like e-invoicing and AI-driven fraud detection.
Fiscal Outlook: The government projects an 11% annual rise in GST collections for FY26, targeting ₹11.78 lakh crore, including Central GST and compensation cess.
Policy and Trade Updates: Recent regulatory reforms, including the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and judicial clarifications on GST scope, are expected to further streamline tax administration and trade.

The Big Picture

The May 2025 GST figures underscore India’s strengthening economic trajectory, with broad-based gains across sectors and regions. While import-driven growth remains a key highlight, experts urge close monitoring of sectoral trends and potential anti-dumping measures to sustain balanced growth going forward.

Source: Times of India, NDTV Profit, CNBC-TV18, Economic Times, The Hindu Business Line, Financial Express, News18, India TV News, The Tribune