(INDIA) – India’s gross GST collections rose 13.9% year-on-year to ₹1,94,812 crore in June 2026, up from ₹1,71,105 crore in June 2025. The Ministry of Finance released the monthly statement on Tuesday, dividing revenue between domestic transactions and import-based levies. The two streams grew at sharply different rates, and the gap between gross and net collections widened as GST refunds climbed 29.1%.

Gross GST collections represent the total tax collected before refunds are processed. Net GST collections reflect what the government actually retains after refunding excess tax paid by businesses. In June 2026, net collections reached ₹1,62,377 crore, an 11.2% increase from the same month last year. The ₹32,436 crore difference between gross and net figures represents refunds issued during the month.

The refund surge signals two developments. Higher refunds typically indicate that exporters and businesses with accumulated input tax credit are filing claims at a faster pace, reflecting operational efficiency in the GST system. Rising refunds also reduce the net revenue the government retains, even as gross collections grow. The 13.9% gross growth rate outpaced the 11.2% net growth rate by 2.7 percentage points, a direct result of the steeper refund payout.

The split between domestic revenue and import-based revenue reveals where growth is concentrated. Domestic GST revenue grew 6.5% to ₹1,34,774 crore. GST from imports surged 34.6% to ₹60,038 crore. The import figure grew more than five times faster than the domestic figure, shifting the revenue mix toward trade-based taxation.

Several factors could explain the import surge. Higher customs valuation of imported goods, increased volumes of taxable imports, or a weaker rupee inflating the rupee-denominated value of dollar-priced imports would all push GST from imports higher. The Ministry of