GST in Pune: CGST, Maharashtra SGST, and IGST — FY 2025-26 Guide
Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Pune, Maharashtra operates under a dual structure administered jointly by the Government of India and Maharashtra state government. Whether you are a business owner in the Hinjawadi IT Park area, a consumer buying services inPune, or a freelancer invoicing clients across India, the applicable GST component — CGST + Maharashtra SGST or IGST — depends on whether the supply is intra-state or inter-state. Pune is non-metro for HRA but pays Maharashtra's full Rs 2,500/year professional tax — same as Mumbai. This combination (40% HRA cap + Rs 2,500 PT) makes it one of the most tax-critical cities for salary structuring. Pune's IT-heavy workforce also has the highest average ESOP and RSU grant values outside of Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
CGST vs Maharashtra SGST vs IGST: How It Works in Pune
The fundamental rule:
- Intra-state supply (supplier and recipient both in Maharashtra): GST = CGST (central government) + Maharashtra SGST (Maharashtra government), each at half the total GST rate. On a Rs 1,00,000 invoice at 18%: CGST Rs 9,000 (9%) + Maharashtra SGST Rs 9,000 (9%).
- Inter-state supply (supplier in Maharashtra, recipient in another state, or vice versa): GST = IGST at the full rate. Same Rs 1,00,000 invoice at 18%: IGST = Rs 18,000 (18%), all to central government (then apportioned to destination state).
- Import of services: IGST under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) — the recipient in Pune pays GST to the government. Common for Pune's businesses using foreign software, cloud services, or overseas consultants.
GST Rates Applicable to Pune's Economy
The four main GST rate slabs apply uniformly across Pune:
- 5% GST: Essential goods and basic services. For Pune: non-AC restaurant meals (no ITC for restaurant), economy hotel stays (room rate below Rs 7,500/night), packaged foods with certain HSN codes, economy air travel (excluding fuel surcharge), electric vehicles, and textile goods below Rs 1,000.
- 12% GST: Mid-range goods and services. Relevant for Pune: hotel stays Rs 7,500–12,000/night, processed food, computers and laptops (with exceptions), smartphones above Rs 20,000 category, business class air travel, construction of affordable housing.
- 18% GST: Most services and manufactured goods. This is the dominant GST rate for Pune's IT/Software sector — IT services, consulting, financial services, insurance (excl. life insurance), telecom, steel, chemicals, paints, AC restaurants, hotel stays above Rs 12,000/night.
- 28% GST: Luxury and demerit goods. Pune: automobiles (plus cess), luxury hotels, tobacco products, gambling and racing activities, luxury cement. Plus additional cess on many 28% items.
IT/Software Sector GST in Pune
Pune's dominant IT/Software sector — represented by employers like Infosys, TCS, Wipro — operates primarily under 18% GST for domestic B2B service invoices. Key GST considerations for Pune IT businesses:
- Software services export (zero-rated): IT exports from Puneto overseas clients are zero-rated with a Letter of Undertaking (LUT). No GST is charged on the invoice, and businesses can claim refund of Input Tax Credit on inputs used. Filing monthly LUT for exports is critical for Pune IT exporters.
- Domestic IT B2B invoices: 18% GST applies. On a Rs 10L monthly invoice to a Maharashtra client: CGST Rs 90,000 + Maharashtra SGST Rs 90,000 = Rs 1.8L total GST. This is fully recoverable as Input Tax Credit by the recipient if they are GST-registered.
- SaaS and software products: 18% GST on perpetual licences, 12% on some packaged software. Cloud-based SaaS services are 18% regardless of how subscription is structured.
- Capital goods: 18% GST on machinery, equipment, and industrial inputs — fully claimable as ITC for manufacturing businesses in Pune's industrial areas. Proper tracking of capital goods ITC over 5 years (reversed if sold before) is critical.
- Raw material inputs: GST rate varies by HSN code — 5% for textiles, 12% for some chemicals, 18% for metals and engineering goods. ITC chain must be maintained.
- Professional and consulting services: 18% GST under SAC 9983/9985. Freelancers and consultants in Pune billing above Rs 20L/year must register for GST and charge 18% CGST + Maharashtra SGST on domestic invoices.
- Commercial property rent: If annual commercial rent in Puneexceeds Rs 20L and the landlord is a GST-registered entity, 18% GST applies. At estimated commercial rents of Rs 55,000/month in Pune, annual commercial rent is Rs 6,60,000. Annual commercial rent is below Rs 20L — GST on rent may not apply if the landlord is under threshold.
Input Tax Credit (ITC) for Pune Businesses
GST-registered businesses in Pune can claim Input Tax Credit on GST paid for goods and services used in their business. ITC rules in Maharashtra:
- CGST paid can offset CGST or IGST liability; Maharashtra SGST paid can offset Maharashtra SGST or IGST; IGST can offset any GST liability (IGST first, then CGST, then SGST).
- Conditions for ITC: Valid tax invoice, goods/services received, GST filed by supplier (reflected in GSTR-2B), and payment made to supplier within 180 days.
- ITC blocked items: Motor vehicles (for personal use), employee-related food and beverages, club memberships, health insurance for employees (unless mandatory under law), works contract for immovable property.
- ITC reconciliation: GSTR-2B (auto-populated) vs your purchase register must be reconciled monthly. Mismatch can lead to ITC disallowance and penalty — a critical compliance task for Pune's MSMEs and large businesses alike.
GST Registration Threshold and Compliance for Pune
GST registration is mandatory in Maharashtra when aggregate turnover exceeds:
- Rs 40 lakh/year for goods suppliers (Rs 20L for special category states — not applicable to Maharashtra).
- Rs 20 lakh/year for service providers.
- Any threshold for inter-state supplies, e-commerce operators, or businesses with taxable supplies despite low turnover.
Pune freelancers and consultants in the IT/Software sector who provide services to clients in other states must register for GST irrespective of turnover — even a single inter-state invoice triggers mandatory registration. Return filing: GSTR-1 (monthly/quarterly for outward supplies) + GSTR-3B (monthly summary + tax payment) + GSTR-9 (annual reconciliation). Businesses in Pune with turnover above Rs 5 crore must file GSTR-1 monthly. Below Rs 5 crore, quarterly GSTR-1 filing is available under the QRMP scheme.
Composition Scheme: For Small Pune Businesses
Small Pune businesses with annual turnover below Rs 1.5 crore (goods) or Rs 50 lakh (services) can opt for the Composition Scheme — pay a fixed percentage of turnover as GST (1% for goods, 6% for services including restaurants) without ITC. Composition dealers cannot raise a tax invoice or collect GST from customers, and cannot supply inter-state. This suits small retailers, restaurants, and service providers inPune's Hinjawadi and Kharadi local markets who do primarily local business.
Disclaimer
GST rates and rules are based on notifications effective as of FY 2025-26. Specific HSN/SAC codes may attract different rates. Special economic zone (SEZ) supplies are zero-rated. E-invoicing is mandatory above certain turnover thresholds. Consult a GST practitioner or Chartered Accountant in Pune for business-specific compliance guidance.