Explained: What is gross GST, net GST and why do refunds matter?

Gross GST is the total tax collected before refunds are paid out.

Net GST is what remains after refunds, which are paid to exporters and others entitled to them.

In October 2026, gross GST was about Rs 2.31 lakh crore and net GST about Rs 2.03 lakh crore.

Refunds were Rs 27,934 crore.

Both gross and net collections grew from a year earlier.

Revenue from imports was Rs 72,246 crore, up 42.2% from Rs 50,796 crore a year earlier, according to the reports.

The data says the growth in gross collections was supported by a 42.2 per cent increase in revenue from imports, according to The Tribune’s account of the release.

Net customs-related GST rose 56.2% to Rs 58,319 crore, according to the reports.

Gross GST from domestic transactions was about Rs 1.59 lakh crore, up 15.8% from about Rs 1.37 lakh crore, according to the reports.

Net domestic GST, after refunds, was about Rs 1.45 lakh crore, up 16.4%, according to The Tribune.

The domestic figure breaks down into Rs 42,935 crore of central GST, Rs 51,340 crore of state GST and Rs 64,769 crore of integrated GST on domestic transactions, according to the reports.

Imports made up roughly 31% of gross collections, and domestic transactions made up roughly 69%, going by the reported figures.

Among states, Maharashtra recorded Rs 35,150 crore of domestic GST, up 13%, and Karnataka recorded Rs 15,922 crore, up 18%, according to The Tribune.

Gujarat recorded Rs 13,516 crore, up 16%, and Haryana Rs 11,529 crore, up 17%, according to the same report.

Assam recorded Rs 1,934 crore, up 47%, among the strongest increases reported for a state, and Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were each up 24%, according to The Tribune.

For April to October of 2026-27, gross GST collections were about Rs 14.77 lakh crore, up 13.2% from about Rs 13.05 lakh crore, according to the reports.

Indian 1-rupee note (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India