GST Collection April 2026 Hits Historic High Of Rs 2.43 Lakh Crore With 8.7 Percent Annual Rise

India’s goods and services tax take reached a record high in April 2026, with gross collections touching Rs 2,42,702 crore, an 8.7% rise compared with April 2025. After refunds, net GST revenue for the month came to Rs 2,10,909 crore, up 7.3% year‑on‑year.

The April 2026 tally comfortably crossed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark for the second straight April, and improved on March 2026’s gross figure of Rs 2,00,064 crore. By contrast, gross GST receipts in April 2025 had stood at Rs 2,23,265 crore, according to official data released on May 1.

GST Collection For April 2026: Domestic and import trends

Underlying numbers showed a clear split between domestic activity and trade flows. Gross domestic GST revenue increased 4.3% year‑on‑year to Rs 1.85 lakh crore in April 2026. At the same time, GST collections from imports jumped 25.8% to Rs 57,580 crore, indicating much stronger tax inflows from inbound shipments.

Once refunds were considered, the contrast became sharper. Net domestic GST revenue growth in April 2026 was only 0.3% compared with a year earlier, effectively flat. Net GST from imports, however, rose 42.9% year‑on‑year to Rs 45,784 crore, highlighting the growing role of import‑linked revenues.

GST Collection For April 2026: Refund surge and its impact

Refunds placed a clear drag on net domestic receipts. Overall GST refunds in April 2026 rose 19.3% year‑on‑year to Rs 31,793 crore. Within this, domestic refunds jumped 54.6%, while export‑related refunds fell 14%, pointing to softer export momentum during the month and higher reimbursements within the local value chain.

Abhishek Jain, indirect tax head & partner, KPMG, said, "April 2026 GST collections at Rs 2.43 lakh crore mark a historic high. While year-end adjustments invariably provide a cyclical boost, a record of this magnitude does reflect an underlying economic resilience that cannot be entirely discounted. The stable revenue buoyancy clearly reflects stronger tax administration, digital enforcement and widening of the tax base."

Providing a detailed breakdown, Vivek Jalan, Partner, Tax, Connect Advisory Services LLP, said, India's GST collections in April 2026 once again crossed the Rs 2 lakh crore milestone, with net revenues rising 7.3% year‑on‑year to Rs 2.11 lakh crore. The surge was powered by a 42.9% jump in net customs GST collections, reflecting higher import costs amid global supply chain disruptions and war‑driven commodity movements.

Jalan added that domestic trends were more mixed. "Gross domestic GST revenues stood at Rs 1.85 lakh crore, up 4.3% from April 2025, underscoring wider compliance coverage. However, net domestic collections remained flat as refunds—primarily under the inverted duty structure — spiked by 54%. These refunds exclude the growing ITC accumulation on input services, which continues under GST 2.0's deepened inverted duty framework. While this accumulation has maintained collections, it has simultaneously raised business expenses, a concern flagged to the GST Council for correction in its upcoming 57th meeting," he added.

Beyond refunds, Jalan pointed to some technical and compliance drivers behind April’s inflows. Additional revenue support came from pre‑deposits tied to Section 74 orders for FY 2019‑20, which were issued before March 31, 2026. Another factor was the change in input tax credit set‑off order on the GST portal after the February 2026 advisory, which had temporarily allowed IGST dues to be adjusted first against SGST credit, was withdrawn.

Overall, the April 2026 GST performance showed record headline numbers helped by import‑led strength, strong administration and system changes, even as domestic net growth remained subdued due to larger refunds and rising input tax credit accumulation that businesses have raised with the GST Council.

FAQs

What were the gross and net GST collections in April 2026?

Gross GST collections were Rs 2,42,702 crore, and after refunds, net GST revenue was Rs 2,10,909 crore for April 2026.

How did domestic and import GST collections compare in April 2026?

Domestic GST revenue rose 4.3% to Rs 1.85 lakh crore gross, while imports surged 25.8% to Rs 57,580 crore gross.

What was the impact of refunds on net GST in April 2026?

Total refunds increased by 19.3% to Rs 31,793 crore, with domestic refunds up 54.6% and export-related refunds down 14%, dampening net domestic growth.

What factors supported the overall GST performance in April 2026?

Record headline numbers were aided by import-led strength, stronger administration and system changes that boosted revenue buoyancy.

What other notable factors affected April 2026 GST figures?

Net imports grew significantly (42.9%), and there were pre-deposits tied to FY 2019-20, along with changes in the input tax credit set-off order on the GST portal that influenced credit adjustments.