GST collections jump 22.9% to Rs 2.31 lakh crore in October as import receipts surge

India collected Rs 2,31,290 crore in goods and services tax (GST) in October, 22.9% more than a year earlier, according to provisional government data released on Sunday. The rise was driven by a 42.2% jump in GST collected on imports, while collections from domestic transactions grew 15.8%.

After refunds, net collections rose 25.6% to Rs 2,03,356 crore, the data showed, as reported by NationPress and APAC News Network. The figures are provisional and can be revised. The Declaration was unable to open the official release on the GST portal, so the numbers below are as reported by the two outlets, whose figures match each other and add up.

The numbers

Gross GST from domestic transactions was Rs 1,59,044 crore, up from Rs 1,37,328 crore in October 2025. Within that, central GST (CGST) brought in Rs 42,935 crore, state GST (SGST) Rs 51,340 crore and integrated GST (IGST) Rs 64,769 crore, NationPress reported.

GST collected on imports rose to Rs 72,246 crore from Rs 50,796 crore a year earlier.

Refunds totalled Rs 27,934 crore, up 6.5%. Of these, Rs 14,007 crore were domestic refunds and Rs 13,927 crore were refunds to exporters, NationPress said.

APAC News Network described October's growth as the fastest in more than four years. October's gross figure was the second highest of this financial year, after the record Rs 2.43 lakh crore collected in April.

For April to October, gross collections were about Rs 14.77 lakh crore, up 13.2% from Rs 13.05 lakh crore in the same period last year, and net collections were Rs 12.69 lakh crore, up 12.6%, both outlets reported.

The states

Maharashtra again contributed the most, Rs 35,150 crore, up 13%, followed by Karnataka (Rs 15,922 crore, up 18%), Gujarat (Rs 13,516 crore, up 16%), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 10,235 crore, up 24%) and Delhi (Rs 9,298 crore, up 10%), APAC News Network reported. Assam recorded growth of 47%. Neither report gave a figure for West Bengal; The Declaration will add it when the state-wise table is available.

What it means

GST paid in a month largely reflects sales made in the previous month, so October's receipts mostly capture business done in September. The much faster rise in import GST than in domestic GST suggests that the value of goods coming into the country rose sharply. The data does not show which goods drove the increase. Crude oil and petrol and diesel are outside GST, so higher oil prices do not directly add to these figures.

Higher net collections matter for both the Centre and the states, which share GST revenue. The states' share is the SGST portion plus a part of IGST settled between them.

What happens next

Figures for November, which will reflect sales in October, including the Durga Puja and Navratri season, are due on 1 December. Economists and businesses will watch them for signs of whether festive demand held up. Diwali and Kali Puja fall on 8 November this year, so spending around them will show up only in the collections reported on 1 January.