Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 14.8% year-on-year (YoY) to ₹1.99 lakh crore in August 2026, according to data released on September 1.
GST revenue from domestic transactions rose 9.3% to ₹1.37 lakh crore, while revenue from imports jumped 29% to ₹62,604 crore during the month.
The Central GST (CGST) collection stood at ₹38,413 crore, while State GST (SGST) collections were ₹46,316 crore. Integrated GST (IGST) collections stood at over ₹1.15 lakh crore.
GST refunds rose 68% to ₹31,795 crore in August.
An tax expert said the sharp rise in domestic refunds was driven by inverted duty structures.
After accounting for refunds, net GST revenue stood at ₹1.68 lakh crore, up 8.3% YoY.
He said GST collections in August reflected continued strength in domestic consumption, while the August 31 statutory time-barring deadline also supported compliance and revenue inflows.
On a year-to-date basis, net GST revenue growth during April-August 2026 is around 9%, Jalan said, noting that GST buoyancy remains below one at around 0.7.
The August collection was higher than the ₹1.74 lakh crore gross GST revenue recorded in July.
Commenting on the data, another tax expert said the 14.8% growth in overall GST collections adds to the positive economic backdrop following 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter.
“This collectively shows the robustness of the Indian economy despite geo-political conflicts and global economic uncertainty,” he said.
