GST News and Updates: Latest Changes, Notifications, and Reforms

The 56th GST Council meeting, held on 3 September 2025, recommended major rate and procedural reforms. Council recommendations are not, by themselves, the same as enacted law; the applicable notification, rule, circular, or amendment determines the legal effect.

October 2025 – Invoice Management System enhancements: GSTN introduced further Invoice Management System functionality, including an Import of Goods section for Bills of Entry and changes concerning pending records such as credit notes and invoice amendments.

22 September 2025 – revised GST rate structure for most goods and services: Following the 56th GST Council recommendations and subsequent implementation, revised rates for most goods and services took effect from 22 September 2025. The broad structure includes 5% and 18% rates, with a 40% rate for specified demerit or luxury goods and services. Specified tobacco products were subject to separate transition provisions.

July 2025 tax period – GSTR-3B system controls and three-year filing restriction: GSTN announced tighter controls over auto-populated GSTR-3B values and a restriction on filing GSTR-3B beyond three years from the original due date. Taxpayers should follow current portal validations.

June to September 2025 – refund, appeal, and system developments: GSTN and CBIC issued measures concerning refunds, review, revision, appeals, waiver applications, QRMP refund validations, Document Identification Numbers, and e-way bill system resilience.

• E-invoicing: E-invoicing applies to specified taxpayers based on AATO and other applicability conditions. The Rs. 5 crore threshold was already expanded to applicable taxpayers from 1 August 2023; it is not a new 2026 mandate.
• E-invoice reporting: Taxpayers with Aggregate Annual Turnover (AATO) of Rs. 10 crore or more must report covered e-invoices within 30 days from the invoice date, effective 1 April 2025.
• GSTR-3B: The portal contains additional validations and assistance for interest and tax-payment reporting. Taxpayers should review portal values against their records before filing.
• Returns older than three years: GSTN has implemented restrictions on filing specified returns beyond three years from the original due date. Businesses should review older pending returns promptly.
• E-way bills: E-way bill functionality continues to evolve through portal and API changes. Businesses using automated integrations should test current specifications.

• GST exemptions and rate-related decisions were revised for specific goods and services through Council recommendations and subsequent notifications.
• GSTR filing processes and reporting requirements continued to evolve through portal functionality and clarifications.
• E-way bill processes were streamlined through portal improvements and validation changes.

• The e-invoicing mandate expanded to taxpayers with AATO of Rs. 5 crore or more from 1 August 2023.
• GSTR-3B and input tax credit reporting continued to receive compliance and system changes.
• E-way bill functionality and return reporting were refined through GSTN advisories and notifications.

• The e-invoicing mandate expanded to taxpayers with AATO of Rs. 10 crore or more from 1 October 2022.
• The GST framework continued to receive changes affecting input tax credit, returns, refunds, and compliance.
• Portal and filing processes were progressively expanded to improve reconciliation and reporting.

• The e-invoicing mandate expanded to taxpayers with AATO of Rs. 50 crore or more from 1 April 2021.
• GST return and refund processes continued to be refined through notifications and portal changes.
• Input tax credit and reconciliation requirements continued to evolve as the GST system matured.

• The Quarterly Return filing and Monthly Payment of Taxes (QRMP) scheme was introduced for eligible taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to Rs. 5 crore, allowing quarterly filing with monthly tax-payment mechanisms.
• GSTR-2B was introduced as an auto-drafted input tax credit statement to support reconciliation.
• The e-invoicing system began phased implementation, initially covering specified large taxpayers.

• GST registration, return filing, and compliance processes continued to be refined through notifications and portal changes.
• The composition scheme and bill-of-supply framework remained important compliance mechanisms for eligible taxpayers.
• GST rates and exemptions were revised for selected goods and services through Council recommendations and government notifications.

• The GST framework continued to be refined through changes to filing timelines, return procedures, rates, exemptions, and compliance requirements.
• GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, and annual-return processes received clarifications and deadline changes.
• GST Council decisions continued to shape the rate and compliance framework during the early implementation phase.

• Identify the source: Check whether the change comes from a GST Council recommendation, Act amendment, notification, circular, GSTN advisory, or portal functionality.
• Check the effective date: A change may be announced on one date, notified later, and become effective on another date.
• Check the scope: Confirm the affected taxpayer category, turnover threshold, supply type, return period, and other conditions.
• Check whether the change is temporary: Due-date extensions and portal relaxations may apply only to a specific period or circumstance.
• Check the current portal: For filing and e-invoice actions, confirm live functionality and validation messages on the GST portal or Invoice Registration Portal.

• GST changes can affect working capital through tax rates, input tax credit timing, refund processing, invoice compliance, and payment cycles. A business may need to fund tax payments or compliance-related technology before receiving customer collections or refunds.
• For example, an established business introducing new invoicing software or upgrading ERP and e-invoicing integrations may incur implementation costs before the system improves compliance. Businesses should assess these costs against cash flow rather than assume that every GST change creates a financing requirement.

An eligible established business can consider a Bajaj Finance Business Loan for legitimate requirements such as working capital, equipment, technology, or expansion. This may be relevant where GST-related process changes form part of a wider business expenditure plan, such as upgrading invoicing systems or funding operating requirements.

A GST notification or compliance cost does not create automatic loan eligibility. Businesses should assess the actual funding need, cash-flow position, repayment capacity, and total cost of borrowing before applying.

Bajaj Finance Business Loan amounts range from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 80 lakh, with repayment tenures from 12 months to 96 months. The business loan interest rate is 14% to 23.50% per annum, and processing fees can be up to 4.72% of the loan amount, inclusive of applicable taxes. 

Business loan eligibility includes Indian nationality, self-employed status, at least 3 years of business vintage, a CIBIL score of 650 or higher, and age of 21 to 80 years subject to the stated maturity condition. No collateral is required.

Before borrowing, compare the proposed repayment with expected business cash flows and consider delayed collections, refunds, and changes in tax treatment.

• Click the 'Check Loan Offer' button to open the online application form.
• Enter basic details, including Name, PAN, Date of Birth, PIN Code, and Business details, and click 'CONTINUE'.
• Complete banking verification and continue.
• View your offer details, select the loan type — Term Loan, Flexi Dropline Loan, or Flexi Hybrid Loan — and choose the repayment tenure.
• Review the details and submit the business loan application.