India’s Gross GST Collection Reaches Record Rs 2.43 Lakh Crore in April 2026

GST Revenue Analysis for April 2026

According to newly released official data, India’s goods and services tax (GST) collections in April 2026 rose by 8.7% year-on-year, reaching an unprecedented total of Rs 2,42,702 crore. This significant growth reflects the country’s ongoing economic resilience, despite fluctuations in various sectors.

The net GST revenue for the month is reported at Rs 2,10,909 crore, which denotes a 7.3% increase when accounting for refunds. In comparison, the gross GST collection for the same month last year was Rs 2,23,265 crore, and the previous month’s collection was Rs 2,00,064 crore.

Refunds and Their Impact

During April 2026, the total amount refunded increased by 19.3% year-on-year, totaling Rs 31,793 crore. The refunds related to domestic transactions surged by 54.6%, while those associated with exports saw a decrease of 14%, indicating a potential decline in export momentum.

Gross domestic GST revenue has grown by 4.3% year-on-year, reaching Rs 1.85 lakh crore, while GST from imports saw a notable increase of 25.8% year-on-year, amounting to Rs 57,580 crore. This enhancement in import GST significantly outpaced the growth observed in domestic collections.

Insights from Tax Experts

Abhishek Jain, the head of indirect tax at KPMG, highlighted that the April 2026 GST collections at Rs 2.43 lakh crore signify a record high for the country. He elaborated that year-end adjustments typically contribute to such cyclical boosts; however, the magnitude of this collection indicates an underlying economic robustness that should not be overlooked. He emphasized that improved tax administration, enhanced digital enforcement, and an expanded tax base have contributed to this revenue stability.

Vivek Jalan, a partner at Connect Advisory Services LLP, noted that the GST collections surpassed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark in April 2026 once more, with net revenues rising 7.3% year-on-year to Rs 2.11 lakh crore. He attributed the sharp increase to a significant 42.9% rise in net customs GST collections, a development influenced by escalating import costs amid ongoing global supply chain issues and commodity movements driven by conflict.

Domestic Revenue Trends and Challenges

While gross domestic GST revenues reached Rs 1.85 lakh crore, indicating a 4.3% increase compared to April 2025, net domestic collections experienced stagnation. This situation stems from refunds that rose notably, particularly under the inverted duty structure, which increased by 54%. These changes also exclude ongoing accumulations of Input Tax Credit (ITC) on input services under the GST 2.0 framework, creating heightened business expenses that have been communicated to the GST Council for addressing in their upcoming meetings.

Additional factors contributing to domestic collections included pre-deposits linked to Section 74 orders for the financial year 2019-20, issued prior to March 31, 2026. Furthermore, a significant compliance shift occurred in April, attributed to adjustments in the ITC set-off sequencing on the GST portal, following the withdrawal of a prior advisory that temporarily allowed the offsetting of IGST liability against SGST credit.