India’s indirect tax collections exceeded expectations for fiscal year 2026, boosted by strong GST and customs revenue, signalling positive economic momentum.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff
Key Points
- India’s total indirect tax collection surpassed the Revised Estimates (RE) for FY26, driven by strong GST, customs, and excise duty revenues.
- Customs duty collections reached 102% of RE, while excise duty achieved 101% of RE, indicating robust economic activity.
- Central GST collection hit 100.8% of RE, contributing significantly to the overall indirect tax surplus.
- The health and national security cess on pan masala manufacturing fell short of its target, reaching only 63% of RE.
- The government anticipates improved cess collections in the current fiscal year as the levy stabilises, with a budgeted target of Rs 14,000 crore.
The government has marginally exceeded the indirect tax collection target for fiscal 2025-26, an official said on Thursday.
The total indirect tax collection, which includes customs, excise and GST, as per Revised Estimates (RE) was pegged at over Rs 15.52 lakh crore for FY26.
This includes Rs 2.58 lakh crore from customs duty, Rs 3.38 lakh crore from excise duty, and Rs 9.58 lakh crore from Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST).
Without giving actual figures, the official said that revenues from customs duty came in at 102 per cent of RE, while in case of excise duty it was 101 per cent of RE.
The Central GST collection came in at 100.8 per cent of RE for FY26.
“Overall, GST plus non-GST collection came in at 101.2 per cent of RE,” the official said.
Health and National Security Cess Performance
However, the collection from health and national security cess, which is levied on pan masala manufacturing has missed the target.
The RE had pegged Rs 2,330 crore from the health and national security cess collection in FY26.
However, the actual collections for FY26 came in lower at 63 per cent of RE.
The RE had pegged collections from the health and national security cess at Rs 2,330 crore for FY26.
However, actual collections fell short, reaching only 63 per cent of the RE.
Under the Health and National Security Cess Act, a cess is levied on the manufacturing capacity of pan masala units effective February 1, 2026.
The cess is levied over and above the highest 40 per cent GST rate.
The official said that the collections from the cess is expected to improve in the current fiscal as the levy settles in.
The current fiscal, the government has budgeted to collect Rs 14,000 crore from the cess.,
