For India’s current GST rates, start with the CBIC GST Goods and Services Rates schedules. Use the GST portal’s HSN search, which the GST Council identifies as a classification resource, to find a likely goods classification; services use SAC. Then check the relevant CBIC notifications and circulars for amendments or clarifications before relying on a rate. The schedule separates CGST, SGST/UTGST, IGST and compensation cess, so confirm the applicable columns and any conditions on the entry.
Which official source should you use first?
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) publishes the starting schedules for goods and services on its GST Goods and Services Rates page. Entries are organized by chapter, heading, sub-heading or tariff item and include descriptions alongside separate tax-component columns.
Treat the schedule as a way to locate a rate entry, not as a guarantee that the entry is unchanged or applies to every transaction described with a broad product or service name. Verify later changes and the facts and conditions relevant to your case.
How to look up a rate
- Find the likely classification. The GST Council’s guidance on HSN and SAC points readers to the GST portal’s HSN search facility for classification lookup. HSN is used for goods; SAC is used for services. The Council’s guidance is older, so use the GST portal as a discovery aid rather than assuming its interface or labels are unchanged.
- Match it to the CBIC schedule. Open the CBIC rate schedules and compare the classification with the full entry description. Do not rely on a search result or a generic product label alone: the relevant classification and any entry-specific conditions can affect which rate entry applies.
- Check for subsequent changes. Search the CBIC Tax Information Portal for relevant GST notifications and circulars. It organizes legislation, notifications, circulars, instructions, guidelines and orders, and its search results showed update entries in 2026. You can also consult the GST Council’s Central Tax (Rate) notification listing, which includes amendments; the archive result reviewed included 2025 amendments.
- Confirm the tax components and conditions. Read the applicable columns in the schedule and the wording of the relevant notification. Check whether the entry involves CGST and SGST/UTGST or IGST, whether compensation cess is listed, and whether stated conditions apply.
What each source is for
| Source | Best use | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| CBIC GST Goods and Services Rates | Locate the published rate entry and see its tax-component columns. | Confirm the full classification, description, applicable components and entry conditions; check for later changes. |
| GST portal HSN search | Help identify a likely HSN classification for goods. The GST Council’s HSN/SAC guidance identifies this facility. | Match the result to the exact CBIC schedule entry. The Council guidance does not establish that today’s interface or menu labels are unchanged. |
| CBIC Tax Information Portal | Find GST legal materials, including notifications and circulars, and check updates. | Search for amendments or clarifications relevant to the schedule entry and effective date. |
| GST Council Central Tax (Rate) listing | Consult the Central Tax (Rate) notification archive, including amendments. | Check whether a listed notification changes or clarifies the entry you found. |
Why a headline percentage may not be enough
The CBIC schedule presents CGST, SGST/UTGST, IGST and compensation cess separately. Which columns matter depends on the transaction, and a rate entry may carry conditions. A product’s everyday name or a service’s short description may not identify the controlling classification by itself. If classification or applicability remains uncertain, confirm the transaction details against the official notification and applicable rules, or seek qualified tax advice.
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The public CBIC schedule page also displays a prompt to visit the website. For that reason, use it to locate the entry, then validate it against official notifications and circulars rather than assuming the table alone reflects every later effective change.
Quick Recap
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