GST Slabs Redefined: Stay Compliant Using Zoho Books!

GST Slabs Redefined: Stay Compliant Using Zoho Books!

Hello Everyone!

The Government of India is rolling out new GST rates, a major reform aimed at simplifying the current tax structure starting 22 September 2025. GST will move from four slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) to two main slabs (5% and 18%), plus a special 40% slab for luxury and sin goods. 

To support updating this, Zoho Books offers complete GST management from automatically updating the new GST rates and applying the updated tax rates for the invoices and recurring invoices. You can stay compliant, reduce manual errors, and make financial management easier for businesses. 

What’s Changing in GST 

The new GST reforms provide relief for both households and businesses in India. These changes affect GST rates across products and services, impacting how businesses manage invoicing and compliance.

You can review the revised GST rates for different products and services in the table below.

Food & Household Sector

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
UHT milk, pre-packaged chena/paneer, all Indian breads
-
NIL
Soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tableware, bicycles
-
5%
Packaged namkeens, bhujia, sauces, pasta, chocolates, coffee, preserved meat
12% / 18%
5%
TVs (LCD/LED >32’), ACs, dishwashers
28%
18%

Home Building & Materials

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
Cement
28%
18%
Marble/travertine blocks, granite blocks, sand-lime bricks
12%
5%
Bamboo flooring/joinery, packing cases & pallets (wood)
12%
5%

Automobile Sector

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
Small cars, two-wheelers ≤350cc
28%
18%
Buses, trucks, three-wheelers, auto parts
28%
18%

Agriculture Sector

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
Tractors
12%
5%
Tires and parts
18%
5%
Harvesters, threshers, sprinklers, drip irrigation, poultry & beekeeping machines
12%
5%
Bio-pesticides and natural menthol
12%
5%

Service Sector

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
Hotel stays up to ₹7,500/day
12%
5%
Gyms, salons, barbers, yoga
18%
5%

Toys, Sports & Handicrafts

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
Handicraft idols & statues
12%
5%
Paintings, sculptures
12%
5%
Wooden/metal/textile dolls & toys
12%
5%

Education Sector

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
Geometry boxes, school cartons, trays12%5%

Medical Sector

Products / Items
Tax Slab (From 1 July 2017)
New Tax Slab (From 22 Sept 2025)
Life-saving drugs, diagnostic kits
12%
0%
Other medicines (Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy)
12%
5%
Spectacles and corrective goggles
28%
5%
Medical oxygen, thermometers, surgical instruments
12–18%
5%
Medical, dental, and veterinary devices
18%
5%

Learn more about updates in GST rate for more goods/services.

Update to new GST Rates in Zoho Books

Important Note: The GST tax rate update scheduling banner will be available in Zoho Books from 6 PM on September 18, 2025.

Zoho Books makes it easy to switch to the new GST rates. You can review the new tax rates for all items based on their HSN Codes, Composite Items, and any recurring transactions. Once reviewed, you can schedule the update. Zoho Books will then apply the new GST rates across all transactions. To review and update:
  1. Go to your Zoho Books organisation’s Home page.
  2. Click View Details from the GST Slab Update banner.
  3. Click Review Updates to apply the new tax rates automatically.
  4. Review the tax changes and click Proceed to Schedule Update.
  5. If your organisation has more than 250 items, the preview will not be available.
    1. You can download the Tax Update file from the generated link to view the new tax rates for all items, along with their HSN Codes, Composite Items, and Recurring Transactions.
  6. Once you have reviewed the items and tax rates, click Confirm & Schedule.
  7. Select your preferred date for updating the tax rates.
Date
How It Is Updated
22 September 2025 (Monday)
New tax rates will be updated on this date. Any transaction created on or after this date will have the new GST rates applied.
20 September 2025 (Saturday)
New tax rates will be updated on this date. Any transaction created after this date will have the new rates, but they will not be effective yet.
21 September 2025 (Sunday)
New tax rates will be updated on this date. Any transaction created after this date will have the new rates, but they will not be effective yet.

Note: If you create a transaction dated before the scheduled update, the new tax rate will be applied by default. You can manually change the tax rate from the item's Edit page if needed.
  1. Check the I agree to manually update the tax rates for all my items and to ensure they are correct for all transactions created until September 22, 2025.
  2. Click Confirm & Schedule to schedule the update.
Alternatively, you can update the new tax rates manually. To do so, export all your items, composite items, and recurring transactions, update the new tax rates in a spreadsheet, and re-import the updated files into Zoho Books.

What Happens After GST Rates Are Updated

Once the new GST rates are updated:
  1. The Tax Rates under Taxes in Settings will display both the old and new tax rates.
  2. Items will be updated with new tax rates based on their selected HSN Code. For items without an HSN Code, you must update the new tax rates manually.
  3. Any transaction created after the update will have the new tax rate set as the default. You can still manually change the tax rate from the transaction’s Edit page if needed.
What If you Miss the GST Update

You can always update to new tax rate from the GST update banner in Zoho Books. However, failing to update the GST tax rates may cause compliance issues while filing your GST returns.

Update your tax rates now to stay compliant, ensuring all transactions reflect the new GST slabs in Zoho Books.

If you have any questions or insights to share, please leave a comment below. We will be happy to assist you!

Regards,
The Zoho Books Team