Goods and Services Tax collections rise 8.7% to ₹2.42 lakh crore in April
Import GST surges 25.8%, driving growth amid higher commodity prices
Domestic GST growth modest at 4.3%, signalling softer consumption trends
India's goods and services tax collections opened the new financial year on a strong note, rising 8.7% year on year to ₹2,42,702 crore in April 2026 — the highest monthly figure in recent memory — with the headline growth driven more by a sharp jump in import-related taxes than by domestic consumption activity.
Import GST was the standout performer, climbing 25.8% to ₹57,580 crore against ₹45,754 crore in April 2025. The surge reflects both higher import volumes and the elevated commodity prices feeding through from the Middle East conflict, particularly on energy imports.
1 May 2026
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Domestic collections, by contrast, grew at a more measured 4.3% to ₹1,85,122 crore. Within that figure, Central GST contributed ₹52,140 crore, State GST ₹61,331 crore and Integrated GST ₹71,651 crore. After adjusting for refunds, net GST revenue for the month settled at ₹2,10,909 crore — a 7.3% increase over the same month last year.
Total refunds rose 19.3% to ₹31,793 crore, though the composition was mixed. Domestic refunds spiked 54.6% to ₹19,996 crore, while export-related refunds processed through the ICEGATE system fell 14% to ₹11,797 crore.
State-Level Picture
The state-wise data shows considerable divergence. Several large states posted double-digit or stronger growth in State GST collections: Karnataka was up 42%, Maharashtra 40%, Telangana 36% and Puducherry an exceptional 108%. Punjab and Chandigarh led all regions with growth rates of 65% and above.
At the other end, Ladakh recorded a modest decline of 8% and Jharkhand saw no change year on year.
The annual picture for FY26 tells a more complicated story. Most states saw their full-year GST collections fall compared to FY25, with Sikkim recording the steepest drop at close to 45%. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand also saw significant annual declines. Karnataka was the exception, posting the highest annual growth at 14% even as most peers saw collections soften over the full year.
Context
The April figure follows a gross collection of ₹2,00,064 crore in March 2026, itself 8.8% higher than the same month the previous year. The sequential jump from March to April is partly seasonal — the start of a new financial year typically sees elevated import activity — but the scale of the import component this April suggests the West Asia-linked supply chain disruptions and energy price pressures are already showing up in the tax data in a meaningful way.
