To check a GST rate in India, identify the correct HSN classification for goods or service heading/SAC for a service, match it against the full description in the relevant CBIC rate schedule, then verify conditions and later notifications or clarifications. For an invoice, separately determine the place of supply: that affects whether tax is shown as CGST plus SGST/UTGST or as IGST.
What you need to check before relying on a rate
A product’s everyday name is not always enough to identify its GST treatment. The applicable schedule entry may distinguish items by composition, form, weight, packaging, intended use or another stated attribute. Services also need to be matched by their scope and classification rather than by a broad label.
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CBIC publishes separate rate schedules for goods and services. Read the complete entry, including its rate columns, conditions and cess field, rather than relying on a similar-looking heading or an old rate chart. CBIC GST goods and services rate schedules
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- Describe the actual supply. For goods, note what the item is made of, its form, packaging and intended use where relevant. For a service, describe the full scope of what is supplied. Preserve details that could distinguish one schedule entry from another.
- Find a likely HSN or service classification. Use the GST Portal’s HSN search facility or search by description in the GSTR-1 workflow. HSN classifications move from heading to sub-heading and tariff-item detail; services use service classifications/SAC. Treat a search result as a starting point to verify, not a binding legal determination. GST Portal return help
- Match the classification and exact wording. In the CBIC schedule, compare the likely code with the full description and check the rate columns, any conditions or exceptions, and cess. Do not choose an entry solely because its heading sounds close to the product or service.
- Check notifications and clarifications. Search the CBIC Tax Information Portal for the governing notification and any later amendment, circular or clarification. The portal carries GST acts, rules, forms, notifications, circulars, instructions, guidelines and orders. The GST Portal’s HSN guidance can help with the lookup path, but interface details may change. GST Portal help and tutorials
- Determine the place-of-supply treatment for the invoice. Establish the supplier’s location and the place of supply. A same-state place of supply is generally treated as intra-state, with central and state/UT tax fields; a different-state place of supply is inter-state and uses IGST treatment. This determines the invoice tax split, not the underlying product or service rate. GST Portal returns user guide
- Keep the relevant dates and sources. For an actual transaction, note the sale or invoice date and the effective date of the controlling notification or clarification. A rate page viewed today may not settle the treatment of an earlier transaction or a case with special facts.
How to resolve two plausible classifications
If two schedule entries seem possible, compare the details that separate them rather than selecting the more familiar description. Check the exact HSN or SAC heading, composition or service scope, packaging or use qualifiers, rate, exemption conditions, cess and the effective date of the notification that controls each entry. For invoice presentation, assess place of supply separately; it answers a different question from classification and rate.
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CBIC’s FAQ illustrates why attributes matter: examples involving sarees vary according to constituent fibre and fabric weight. The examples show how distinctions can affect classification; they are not an exhaustive or necessarily current ruling for every transaction. CBIC GST FAQ
Which official sources to use
- CBIC rate schedules: Use the goods or services schedule as the starting point for the rate entry and its stated conditions. Because rates and conditions can change, verify the entry against relevant later legal instruments. Goods and services rate schedules
- GST Portal HSN search and tutorials: Use these tools to find a likely code or search descriptions in the return workflow. Their role is lookup support, not a final legal conclusion. GST Portal help
- CBIC Tax Information Portal: Use it to find notifications, amendments, circulars and other legal material that may change or clarify an entry. Tax Information Portal
- CBIC FAQ: Consult its examples to understand how product attributes can matter, while checking the current schedule and legal updates for the transaction at hand. CBIC FAQ
What a lookup result does—and does not—tell you
A matching schedule entry supports a rate only when the goods or service actually meet its description and conditions. The HSN or SAC search is useful for narrowing the possibilities, but the classification and applicable treatment depend on the transaction’s facts and the governing legal text. Likewise, determining intra-state or inter-state treatment tells you how tax is split on the invoice; it does not establish the rate by itself.
This is a general lookup guide, not a determination for an unspecified transaction. GST rates, classifications and conditions can change, so check the latest CBIC notification or circular before applying a specific rate. The source material for this guide is current as of 7 October 2026 (UTC).
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