56th GST Council Meeting Press Release - Summary
The 56th meeting of the GST Council was held on 3 rd September, 2025 at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, New Delhi under the chairpersonship of the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. The GST Council inter-alia made the recommendations relating to changes in GST tax rates, provide relief to individuals, common man, aspirational middle class and measures for facilitation of trade in GST. FAQs are also being issued for clarification of doubts.
The 56th meeting of the GST Council was held in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. The GST Council inter-alia made the recommendations relating to changes in GST tax rates, provide relief to individuals, common man, aspirational middle class and measures for facilitation of trade in GST. FAQs are also being issued for clarification of doubts.
56th GST Council Meeting Press Release
The Council was of the view that the changes in GST rates of goods and services need to be implemented with effect from 22nd September 2025. However, keeping in view the requirement of funds to fulfill the obligation under the compensation cess account, the Council decided that the changes in GST rates may be implemented in a phased manner as follows:
- The changes in GST rates on services will be implemented with effect from 22nd September 2025.
- The changes in GST rates of all goods except pan masala, gutkha, cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and bidi, will be implemented with effect from 22nd September 2025.
- Pan Masala, gutkha, cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and bidi will continue at the existing rates of GST and compensation cess where applicable, till loan and interest payment obligations under the compensation cess account are completely discharged.
- Based on c) above, Union Finance Minister and Chairperson of the GST Council may decide the actual date of transition to the revised rates of GST approved by the Council for the above-mentioned goods.
- Pending requisite amendments in CGST Act, 2017, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) shall administratively start implementation of the revised system of grant of 90% provisional refunds arising out of Inverted Duty structure on the basis of data analysis and risk evaluation done by the system, as in the case of risk based provisional refunds on account of zero-rated supplies.