GST Collections April 2026 Cross ₹2.42 Lakh Crore, Up 8.7% YoY

It is the first month of a new financial year – no year-end rush, no pending book closures, no last-minute compliance flurry. Whatever April delivers is a clean, organic signal of how the economy is running. And in April 2026, the signal is loud and clear.

India’s gross GST revenue rose 8.7% year-on-year in April 2026, reaching ₹2,42,702 crore, compared to ₹2,23,265 crore collected in the same month last year, according to data released by the Finance Ministry.

That is not just a strong number – it is the highest-ever April GST collection in India’s history, surpassing the previous April 2025 record. And unlike March, which benefits from year-end reconciliation activity, April’s collection is earned without that tailwind. That makes this figure all the more significant.

This piece breaks down what drove the number, what each component contributed, and what it signals for the rest of FY 2026-27.

GST Collection in April 2026: Key Highlights & Revenue Data

April 2026 gross GST collection: ₹2,42,702 crore – up 8.7% YoY from ₹2,23,265 crore in April 2025

• Highest-ever April collection in India’s GST history
• Up significantly from March 2026’s ₹2,00,064 crore – a ₹42,638 crore month-on-month jump
• Net collection after refunds: ₹2,10,909 crore – up 7.3% YoY

Two signals worth noting:

Imports surging: Import-related GST jumped 25.8% YoY to ₹57,580 crore, sharply outpacing domestic collection growth of 4.3% – reflecting deepening global trade integration at the very start of the new fiscal year.

Domestic refunds spiking: Total refunds rose 19.3% to ₹31,793 crore, with domestic refunds up a sharp 54.6% to ₹19,996 crore – a sign that the government is actively clearing backlog claims carried over from FY 2025-26, which is excellent news for businesses and exporters managing working capital.

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Breaking Down the Numbers: What’s Inside ₹2,42,702 Crore?

The domestic total of ₹1,85,122 crore included Central GST of ₹52,140 crore, State GST of ₹61,331 crore, and Integrated GST of ₹71,651 crore. Gross revenue from imports stood at ₹57,580 crore.

Here is the full component-wise table:

Refund Breakdown:

Domestic refunds saw a sharp rise of 54.6% to ₹19,996 crore, while export-related refunds through the ICEGATE system experienced a 14% decline, totalling ₹11,797 crore.

A few things worth unpacking here:

Gross domestic revenue grew 4.3% to reach ₹1,85,122 crore. This is a more moderate pace than the 5.9% domestic growth seen in March – but that is expected. March carries natural year-end momentum. April’s 4.3% is a cleaner, baseline-organic number, and it holds up well.

The real headline within the headline is imports. The gross revenue from imports stood at ₹57,580 crore, marking a 25.8% increase from the ₹45,754 crore recorded in April 2025. A 25.8% import GST surge in the very first month of FY 2026-27 is a significant indicator – it points to robust port activity, strong demand for imported goods and raw materials, and a broader deepening of India’s trade integration globally.

The 54.6% spike in domestic refunds is a double-edged signal. On one hand, it reflects a genuine acceleration in government refund processing – a positive for businesses that have pending Input Tax Credit claims and are waiting on working c es the net collection growth to 7.3%, even as gross collections grew 8.7%. Net of that, ₹2,10,909 crore in hand is still a historically strong April number.

State-wise GST Collection in April 2026: Key Movers

The full state-wise breakup for April 2026 is awaited in granular form from the GST Network, but the Finance Ministry data already flags significant state-level divergences:

Several states such as Maharashtra (+40%), Karnataka (+42%), Telangana (+36%), and Puducherry (+108%) recorded strong year-on-year SGST growth in April, while some states like Ladakh (-8%) and Jharkhand (0%) saw declines or no change.

State-wise Analysis of GST Collection April 2026

Maharashtra: Once again leading the pack with 40% YoY SGST growth – a remarkable surge that significantly outpaces the national average. Maharashtra’s financial services, manufacturing, and trade sectors appear to be firing strongly at the start of FY 2026-27.

Karnataka: 42% YoY SGST growth – the standout growth story of April 2026. Bengaluru’s tech sector, coupled with the state’s expanding manufacturing and pharma base, is clearly translating into buoyant GST compliance and collections.

Telangana: 36% YoY SGST growth – consistent with its recent trajectory of strong IT-driven, pharma-linked, and manufacturing-led tax generation. Telangana is cementing its place as one of India’s fastest-growing GST contributors.

Puducherry: 108% YoY SGST growth – the highest percentage growth of any state or UT in April 2026. Being a smaller base, the absolute number remains modest, but the trajectory warrants close attention.

Jharkhand & Ladakh: Flat or negative – consistent with IGST settlement adjustments and the inherent revenue volatility of smaller, resource-linked economies. This is a distributional and cyclical phenomenon rather than a structural concern.

April 2026 in Context: How Does It Stack Up?

April 2026 crossing ₹2.42 lakh crore without any year-end tailwind is a structural statement. India’s GST base is wide enough, and compliance deep enough, that even a “cold start” month – the first filing cycle of a fresh financial year – can generate record-level revenue. That is the kind of tax-base maturity that macro-economists and policymakers look for.

Import-led momentum at 25.8% YoY growth in import GST also suggests that India’s trade activity has started FY 2026-27 on a strong footing – critical in a year where global trade headwinds from tariff disruptions and geopolitical realignments remain active concerns.

Over to You

GST collection for April 2026 stands at ₹2,42,702 crore, an 8.7% year-on-year increase as per data released by the Finance Ministry on 1st May 2026. Net of refunds, India collected ₹2,10,909 crore, up 7.3% YoY.

The ₹2.42 lakh crore mark in April is more than just a record. It is the strongest possible opening statement for FY 2026-27 a month untouched by year-end compliance tailwinds, yet delivering India’s best-ever April collection. Strong imports, high domestic compliance, and accelerating state-level growth from Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana paint an optimistic picture for the year ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the GST collection for April 2026?

₹2,42,702 crore — up 8.7% from April 2025’s ₹2,23,265 crore. After refunds of ₹31,793 crore, net collection stands at ₹2,10,909 crore.

2. Is April 2026 the highest-ever GST collection?

April 2026’s ₹2,42,702 crore is the highest-ever April collection recorded in India’s GST history, surpassing April 2025’s ₹2,23,265 crore which had previously held that record.

3. What drove growth in April 2026 GST collections?

The growth was primarily driven by a significant surge in import-related taxes, which outpaced domestic collections during the start of the new fiscal year. Gross revenue from imports rose 25.8% YoY to ₹57,580 crore.

4. Which state collected the highest GST growth in April 2026?

Puducherry posted the highest percentage growth at 108% YoY, while Karnataka (+42%), Maharashtra (+40%), and Telangana (+36%) were the standout large-state performers.

5. Why are domestic refunds so high in April 2026?

Domestic refunds saw a sharp rise of 54.6% to ₹19,996 crore — primarily reflecting the government’s accelerated clearance of pending ITC refund claims carried over from FY 2025-26. This is good news for businesses and exporters waiting on working capital, even as it moderates the net collection growth rate slightly.

Data Source: A Report by ANI

Also Read:

GST Collection March 2026
GST Collection February 2026
GST Collection December 2025
GST Collection October 2025
GST Collection September 2025

About the author

Mehul Jagwani

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Mehul is a seasoned content writer with a passion for simplifying complex accounting and GST topics. With a keen interest in entrepreneurship and business management, he specializes in creating informative and engaging content for themunim.com. His goal is to help businesses understand and implement accounting and GST software solutions effectively. When he's not crafting content, Mehul enjoys exploring new places and spending time with his Golden Retriever.