India’s gross GST collections hit record Rs 2.42 lakh crore in April, up 8.7%

India's gross GST collections for April reached a record high of Rs 2.42 lakh crore, up 8.7% compared with the same month last fiscal year, according to official data released on Friday. The data indicates no immediate disruption to business activity, even as global uncertainties persisted, pointing to underlying momentum in the economy at the start of the new financial year.

The previous high was collections for the month of April 2025, at Rs 2.37 lakh crore.

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Collections are typically strong in April, reflecting year-end book reconciliations by businesses in March.

Net GST collections stood at Rs 2.11 lakh crore in April 2026, marking a 7.3% year-on-year increase.

Total refunds rose 19.3% year-on-year to Rs 31,793 crore, leading to a net GST revenue of Rs 2,10,909 crore for the month.

The growth was supported by strong import-linked revenues. Gross import revenue jumped 25.8% to Rs 57,580 crore, while gross domestic revenue rose a more modest 4.3% to Rs 1.85 lakh crore.

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India’s net Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection rose to Rs 2.11 lakh crore in April 2026, marking a 7.3% increase year-on-year, according to official data released on Wednesday.

Net revenue from customs (GST on imports) surged 42.9%, far outpacing the 0.3% growth in net domestic revenue, indicating that external trade remained a key driver of collections during the month.

State-wise trends in April showed a mixed but improving picture post-settlement, with large states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat continuing to anchor collections with steady growth. Among major states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also recorded healthy gains, while Kerala and Telangana posted strong increases. However, some states including Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand saw declines in pre-settlement revenues, highlighting uneven momentum across regions.

Saurabh Agarwal, Tax Partner, EY India, said: "The robust surge in GST collections underscores the fundamental resilience of the Indian consumption story. While the headline numbers are encouraging, the divergence between modest domestic GST growth and the significant uptick in import-linked collections warrants a strategic pivot. In an increasingly dynamic global landscape, we must critically re-examine our policy frameworks to further incentivise domestic manufacturing and ensure "Make in India" keeps pace with global supply chain shifts.

The government’s proactive approach to processing domestic refunds is a welcome signal of its commitment to liquidity, ensuring that rate rationalisation—and the resulting inverted duty structures—does not stifle industrial momentum, he said. Moreover, seeing double-digit growth in regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, and Lakshadweep is particularly heartening; it reflects a more holistic and inclusive economic expansion across the country’s geography, he added.

"However, a note of caution for the quarter ahead: April’s record figures reflect the year-end push for targets by both industry and administrators. As we transition into the new fiscal year, we should anticipate a stabilisation in the coming months, with collections likely seeing a sequential dip in both absolute and percentage terms as the market recalibrates," Agarwal said.