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GST@8: Learning from the Past, Defining the Future

Bronze Anniversary of GST Regime Embodies Sustained Optimism Among India Inc

As India marks eight years since the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Deloitte’s latest edition of its flagship publication, “GST@8: Learning from the Past, Defining the Future”, captures industry sentiment through a survey of C-suite and C-1 executives across sectors and business sizes. With 963 responses from eight sectors, the report explores GST 2.0 expectations, compliance, dispute resolution, and MSME readiness.

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The survey shows four years of rising optimism, with 85% respondents now having a positive view of GST — up from 59% in 2022 (GST@5 survey), 72% in 2023 (GST@6 survey) and 84% in 2024 (GST@7 survey).

FY 2024 has been a blockbuster year, thanks to the government's proactive approach in introducing significant policy-level reforms, issuing taxpayer-friendly clarifications and instructions, and enhancing features on the GST portal — the positive impact of which is clearly reflected in the GST survey results.
Reimagining the GST Journey

Perception and impact of GST, key learnings from the 8 years of implementation

Accelerating Business Efficiency

Measures enhancing ease of doing business while driving cost optimisation, in India

Charting the future

Roadmap to GST 2.0, both policy and GST portal enhancements

Navigating GST Disputes

Challenges, Progress, and aligning stakeholder expectations

Empowering MSMEs through GST

Progress and Policy Imperatives

The top performance area continues to remain automation of tax compliances including auto-population of return formats, stabilized e-invoicing & e-way bill functionalities. Further, proactive GST clarifications based on taxpayer/ stakeholder consultation has been highly appreciated by the industry as well.

Expectations of GCs are evolving into business partnering

Leading a large corporate legal department or a small in-house team comes with shared challenges. Your role has evolved from handling legal Events to supporting broader business enhancement, integrating more fully into business operations. Reshaping your role to deliver better business outcomes.

The fundamentals of your role are still vital

Risk management, corporate defence and compliance still form a vital part of your role. But now, your board and key stakeholders across the business are demanding more strategic insights on a range of business decisions and initiatives, All of which require specialist skills.​

Uncertainty creates opportunity for legal leaders

The chief legal officer, along with their peers in risk and hr, is becoming an integral contributor to a company’s management and growth. Together with your teams, you form a powerful function with interconnected and invaluable Expertise. you bring value that can help your company not only stay above reproach, but thrive.

While moving towards the next phase of GST reforms, the key industry requests from the survey are as follows:

Export liberalisation

Emerged as the top priority in 2025, rising from the fourth position last year — reflecting a strategic shift in industry expectations and a push for more facilitative export provisions.

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GST rate rationalisation and working capital measures

Remain critical to driving sectoral competitiveness. Respondents advocate for reforms such as CGST credit portability among distinct persons and doing away with rigid rules like mandatory cash payments.

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Ease of doing business: Expansive pro-revenue legal interpretations

By tax authorities were identified as a major challenge by MSMEs. Additionally, simplified registration and refund mechanisms have been highlighted as an industry request across sectors.

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Need for a robust and operational dispute resolution

A pressing need is felt for a more effective and efficient dispute resolution framework. Measures to curb hasty and high-pitched assessments, enforce time-bound scrutiny processes, and ensure the on-ground implementation of GST circulars and instructions has been highlighted as necessary for dispute resolutions.

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Enhanced technology evolution in GST Compliance

The industry is prepared and eager to collaborate on shaping GST portal 2.0—a more streamlined, easy to use, and more effective tax compliance system.

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Impetus to MSMEs

Relaxation in ITC matching requirements and quarterly tax payments is pegged as the top sought after relief area.

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Our thinking

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Mahesh Jaising

Mahesh Jaising

Partner, Tax, Deloitte India

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