BAJAJ FINSERV DIRECT LIMITED
Tax Insight

GST on Electronics and Electrical Items

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Deepshikha Nainani

Table of Contents

Overview

The Goods and Services Tax (GST), introduced in 2017, replaced service tax, excise duty, and VAT to create a unified indirect tax system. GST rates are determined by the GST Council using the HSN (Harmonised System of Nomenclature) code.

As per the 2025 updates, GST on electronics and electrical items ranges from 0% and 5% to 28%, depending on the category and use of the product. Items such as mobile phones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators, lighting equipment, and charging stations fall under these slabs. The rate applicable to each product is based on its function and classification under GST law.

GST Rate on Electrical and Electronics Items

As per the 2025 reforms, GST on electronics and electrical items ranges from 0% to 28%, depending on the category.

Here’s the detailed breakdown:

Product GST Rate
  • Electrical energy

0%

  • Chargers and charging stations for electric vehicles

  • Electrically operated vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and e-bicycles

5%

  • Non-electronic toys such as tricycles, pedal cars, scooters, and their parts or accessories

12%

  • Padlocks, combination locks, and electrically operated locks made of base metal

  • Machinery parts without electrical connectors, coils, or contacts

  • Electrical transformers, static converters, and inductors (excluding EV chargers)

  • Vehicle lighting or signalling equipment (wipers, defrosters, demisters, etc.)

  • Welding, brazing, and soldering machines, including hot spraying apparatus

  • Electrical signalling and traffic control equipment for railways, roads, waterways, ports, or airfields (excluding heading 8608)

  • Electrical capacitors (fixed, variable, or pre-set)

  • Electrical resistors, excluding heating resistors

  • Circuit protection and switching apparatus above 1,000 volts (switches, fuses, lightning arresters, plugs, connectors, junction boxes, etc.)

  • Circuit protection and switching apparatus up to 1,000 volts (switches, sockets, relays, lamp holders, connectors, junction boxes, etc.) including fibre optic connectors

  • Filament and discharge lamps, arc lamps, UV and IR lamps, sealed beam units

  • Electrical machines and apparatus with independent functions not classified elsewhere

  • Carbon electrodes, brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons, with or without metal

  • Electrical insulators of all materials

  • Closed-circuit television (CCTV), transmission apparatus for radio/television broadcasting (with or without reception/sound recording), television cameras, digital cameras, video recorders, including unmanned aircraft equipment (excluding two-way radios used by defence, police, or paramilitary forces)

  • Television sets (LCD/LED) with screen size not exceeding 32 inches

  • Computer monitors up to 32 inches and set-top boxes for televisions

  • Thermionic, cold cathode, or photo-cathode valves and tubes (e.g., vacuum/gas-filled valves, mercury arc rectifiers, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes)

  • Insulating fittings for machines or appliances, including conduit tubing with insulating lining

  • Waste and scrap from primary cells, batteries, and accumulators not specified elsewhere

  • Oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, and instruments for measuring electrical values or detecting ionising radiations

  • Safety fuses, detonating cords, percussion caps, igniters, and electric detonators

  • Glass envelopes and tubes for lamps, cathode ray tubes, or light sources

  • Refrigerators, freezers, and other refrigerating/freezing equipment (excluding air conditioners of heading 8415)

  • Hand tools powered by pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric motors

  • Office machines such as duplicators, addressing machines, counters, sharpeners (excluding Braille typewriters)

  • Machines for assembling lamps, tubes, or valves, and machines for hot working of glass or glassware

  • Electric motors, generators, generating sets, and rotary converters

  • Domestic appliances with built-in motors (excluding vacuum cleaners)

  • Shavers, hair clippers, and hair-removing appliances with electric motors

  • Portable electric lamps powered by self-contained sources (excluding heading 8513 equipment)

  • Industrial or laboratory electric furnaces and ovens, including induction and dielectric heating equipment

  • Electro-thermic appliances such as water heaters, immersion heaters, irons, hair dryers, curlers, and other domestic heating appliances

  • Microphones, loudspeakers, headphones, amplifiers, and sound systems

  • Electric sound or visual signalling devices (bells, alarms, sirens, panels)

  • Accumulators and separators (excluding lithium-ion types)

  • Doped chemical elements or compounds for electronics (excluding silicon wafers)

  • Semiconductor machinery, flat panel display equipment, and related accessories

  • Electronic integrated circuits

  • Electronic toys including tricycles, pedal cars, scooters, and parts

  • E-waste as defined under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016

  • Safety fuses, detonating cords, percussion caps, igniters, and electric detonators

  • Glass envelopes and tubes for lamps, cathode ray tubes, or light sources

  • Refrigerators, freezers, and other refrigerating/freezing equipment (excluding air conditioners of heading 8415)

  • Hand tools powered by pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric motors

  • Office machines such as duplicators, addressing machines, counters, sharpeners (excluding Braille typewriters)

  • Machines for assembling lamps, tubes, or valves, and machines for hot working of glass or glassware

  • Electric motors, generators, generating sets, and rotary converters

  • Domestic appliances with built-in motors (excluding vacuum cleaners)

  • Shavers, hair clippers, and hair-removing appliances with electric motors

  • Portable electric lamps powered by self-contained sources (excluding heading 8513 equipment)

  • Industrial or laboratory electric furnaces and ovens, including induction and dielectric heating equipment

  • Electro-thermic appliances such as water heaters, immersion heaters, irons, hair dryers, curlers, and other domestic heating appliances

  • Microphones, loudspeakers, headphones, amplifiers, and sound systems

  • Electric sound or visual signalling devices (bells, alarms, sirens, panels)

  • Accumulators and separators (excluding lithium-ion types)

  • Doped chemical elements or compounds for electronics (excluding silicon wafers)

  • Semiconductor machinery, flat panel display equipment, and related accessories

  • Electronic integrated circuits

  • Electronic toys including tricycles, pedal cars, scooters, and parts

  • E-waste as defined under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016

18%

  • Monitors and projectors (not incorporating TV reception apparatus); reception apparatus for television (with or without radio-broadcast receivers or recording/reproducing features), excluding computer monitors up to 32 inches, set-top boxes, and televisions up to 32 inches

  • Electrical ignition and starting equipment for internal combustion engines (magnetos, ignition coils, spark plugs, glow plugs, starters, dynamos, alternators, cut-outs)

  • Lithium-ion batteries, accumulators, and lithium-ion power banks

28%

Disclaimer: The GST rates listed above are for reference purposes only and may be subject to change based on government updates or amendments. The list does not cover all products or potential exemptions, and certain items may attract additional Cess. For the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, please refer to the official GST portal

How to Calculate GST on Electronics and Electrical Items

To calculate GST on an electronic product:

  1. Identify the correct HSN code for the product

  2. Check the applicable GST rate as per the 2025 reforms (0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, or 28%)

  3. Apply the GST rate on the taxable value of the product

Formula:

GST Amount = (Value of the product × GST Rate) ÷ 100

Final Price = Product Value + GST Amount

Example:

If a television priced at ₹20,000 attracts 18% GST:

GST = (20,000 × 18) ÷ 100 = ₹3,600

Final Price = ₹20,000 + ₹3,600 = ₹23,600

GST Input Tax Credit (ITC) for Electronics and Electrical Items

Input Tax Credit (ITC) allows businesses to claim credit for the GST paid on purchases of electronic and electrical items used for business purposes. The credit can be offset against GST liability on sales.

Key points on ITC eligibility:

  • ITC can be claimed only on items used for business activities, not for personal use

  • Proper tax invoices or debit notes must be maintained

  • ITC cannot be availed on goods specifically restricted under GST law (e.g., items for personal consumption)

  • ITC on capital goods like machinery or equipment can be claimed if used in the course of business

This mechanism helps reduce the overall tax burden and prevents the cascading effect of taxes in the electronics sector.

Impact of GST on the Electronics Industry

The updated GST rates on electronics have had a significant influence on both manufacturers and consumers.

Here is how the revised GST rates will affect the electrical and electronics industry:

  • Luxury categorisation of goods

Many domestic electrical and electronic products continue to fall under higher GST slabs. As a result, companies are often unable to pass GST benefits directly to end consumers.

  • Rising costs

Higher tax rates, combined with inflationary pressures, are expected to increase the overall cost of household electronic appliances, affecting demand in retail markets.

  • Stable business demand

The usage of electrical machinery and equipment for industrial or business purposes is expected to remain steady despite rate changes.

  • Support for imports and manufacturing

Reduction in GST on certain electronic goods and waiver of import duties on semi-finished components have been welcomed by industry stakeholders.

  • Increased competition

Indian manufacturers face stiff competition from low-cost imported electronic parts due to the relatively high GST burden.

Conclusion

The revised GST framework for electrical and electronic items was introduced to replace multiple levies such as VAT, excise duty, and service tax. The system aims to improve transparency and streamline compliance for consumers and businesses.

Like any major reform, the new tax structure brings both benefits and drawbacks. While it simplifies taxation, its impact varies across product categories, influencing affordability, competitiveness, and overall market dynamics.

FAQs on GST for Electronics and Electrical Items

What is the GST rate on electronic items in India in 2025?

The GST on electronics and electrical items ranges from 0% to 28%, depending on the category. For example, EV chargers are taxed at 5%, most appliances and components at 18%, and lithium-ion batteries at 28%.

Many household appliances and consumer electronics fall under higher GST slabs. These are treated as non-essential or luxury goods, which increases their effective cost for end consumers.

GST has streamlined taxation by replacing VAT, excise duty, and service tax. However, higher tax rates on certain products, coupled with inflation, have led to an increase in prices for several household electronic goods.

Yes, in some ways. Waivers on import duties for semi-finished components and rationalised GST rates for specific products have supported manufacturers. At the same time, Indian producers face competition from low-cost imports.

The GST regime has introduced transparency, reduced multiple tax levies, and simplified compliance. It also ensures uniform taxation across states, creating a more organised market structure.

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Hi! I’m Deepshikha Nainani
Financial Content Specialist

Deepshikha is a marketing and communications expert with over a decade of experience across various industries. With expertise in performance content, digital campaigns and brand management, she excels in creating data-driven, creative solutions that drive growth and engagement. Holding certifications in digital marketing and content strategy, she is passionate about combining creativity with analytics to create compelling marketing narratives that resonate. During her downtime, Deepshikha enjoys watching films and documentaries, listening to music, cooking and traveling.

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