According to data, collections were around ₹2 lakh crore, which is around 15 per cent as compared to over ₹1.74 lakh crore mopped up during corresponding August of 2025. However, it is lower than ₹2.11 lakh crore of July.
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Collections for Goods & Services Tax (GST) in August showed a strong growth of around 15 per cent, data available on GST portal showed on Tuesday. However, the collection has moderated as compared to July.Collections in August is related to goods consumed and services availed in July.According to data, collections were around ₹2 lakh crore, which is around 15 per cent as compared to over ₹1.74 lakh crore mopped up during corresponding August of 2025. However, it is lower than ₹2.11 lakh crore of July.Meanwhile, in August, revenue from domestic transactions rose 9.3 per cent to over ₹1.37 lakh crore, while revenue from imports increased 29 per cent to ₹62,604 crore. The gross Central GST collection was ₹38,413 crore, State GST at ₹46,316 crore and Integrated GST at over ₹1.15 lakh crore during August. Refunds jumped 68 per cent to ₹31,795 crore during August. Net GST collection during the month was at ₹1.68 lakh crore, a 8.3 per cent year-on-year growth.Collections in August reaffirmed that “economic momentum has remained resilient despite global uncertainties. 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,” said Manoj Mishra, Partner with Grant Thornton Bharat.Echoing the sentiment, Vivek Jalan, Partner with Tax Connect said that while India’s GST buoyancy may YTD (April–August 2026) is below unity at around 0.7, as net GST revenue growth of 9 per cent trails real GDP growth of 7.8 per cent and nominal GDP growth of 10.3 per cent, with inflation averaging 4.4–5.1 per cent; with ensuing festive season, it is expected to move towards unity.“The statutory time‑barring deadline of 31st August further strengthened compliance, adding to revenue inflows. Yet, the sharp 72.6 per centsurge in domestic refunds — driven by inverted duty structures — signals a structural imbalance that warrants urgent redressal,” he said while adding that this issue could be taken up on GST Council meeting scheduled to take place on September 12.At the same time, noting positive developments, experts also call for immediate policy response. “The uptick in exports across electronics, mobile phones and automotives is a positive validation of the government’s manufacturing-focused policy interventions, signalling that India’s positioning in global value chains is strengthening,” Saurabh Agarwal, Tax Partner at EY India said. That said, “the concurrent rise in imports points to continuing dependence on external sourcing in certain segments, reinforcing the need for a calibrated policy push towards deeper localisation and import substitution in these sectors,” he added.Manoj Mishra of Grant Thronton also had some suggestions with regard to the quality of collections which he thought warranted closer attention. “While gross GST revenue expanded by 14.8 per cent year-on-year, domestic collections grew 9.3 per cent, whereas import-related GST surged 29 per cent, indicating that trade-linked activity continues to make a disproportionately higher contribution to revenue buoyancy,” he said, Simultaneously, the 67.9 per cent increase in refunds moderated net GST growth to 8.3 per cent underscoring that faster refund processing is supporting business liquidity while tempering headline revenue gains, he added.Published on September 1, 2026
