For many Indians, owning a house is not just a milestone; it's a dream. However, when it comes to real estate, the price tag tends to hold more weight than just bricks and mortar. That's where Goods and Services Tax (GST) comes in—a single tax that has revolutionised how we pay for under-construction buildings, office space, and even budget housing.
While GST made the tax structure more straightforward, for homebuyers and builders alike, it's a mystery riddled with exemptions, rate revisions, and input tax credits. In this handbook, we will demystify all you want to know about GST on real estate—from taxation guidelines to exemptions and the way GST is really computed on your property.
What is GST On Real Estate?
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an integrated indirect tax introduced in India on July 1, 2017, replacing various previous taxes, including VAT, service tax, and excise duty. Regarding the real estate industry, GST is only payable on under-construction properties.
Under government guidelines, properties that are completed or in the ready-to-move-in condition, as well as the resale of properties and land sales, are exempt from GST. The latest GST rate on under-construction residential apartments is 5 per cent without input tax credit and 1 per cent on affordable housing. This reform aims to simplify taxes and enhance transparency in property transactions.
Source: CBIC
Read More: How to Calculate your GST Online?
GST Taxation On Real Estate
The following is the way GST is applied in real estate:
Property Type
| Pre‑GST Tax
| GST Rate (post April 2019)
|
Affordable (≤₹45 lakh carpet)
| 8% on construction cost
| 1% without input tax credit (ITC)
|
Non‑affordable under‑construction
| 12% effective (18% on ⅔ value)
| 5% without ITC
|
Ready‑to‑move‑in/completed
| Service tax + VAT (varied 3.75–4.5%)
| 1% for affordable housing and 5% for non-affordable housing
|
This rationalisation materialised after the 33rd GST Council meeting on 24 February 2019.
Source: Investopedia, Livemint
Impact Of GST On the Real Estate Sector
Post GST advancements:
The construction material input tax credit reduces costs, benefiting buyers and developers.
A more transparent tax structure is beneficial and enhances customer trust.
Source: Livemint
Impact On Affordable Property
The introduction of the new GST rates in 2019 included significant advantages to consumers of affordable housing. Previously, the GST was 8 per cent, which accounted for two-thirds of the property price (excluding the land), thereby increasing the cost of homes.
Yet, the value of post-2019 restructuring reduced the rate to 1% of the total property value, excluding the input tax credit. This shift greatly minimised the effective cost per square foot, and the affordability of homes increased, which has increased demand in the segment.
Metric
| Before 2019
| After 2019
|
GST Rate
| 8% on ⅔ construction cost
| 1% of the total value
|
Effective Cost (per square ft)
| ₹280
| ₹35
|
Input Tax Credit (ITC)
| Applicable
| Not applicable
|
Source: Livemint
Impact On Luxury Property
In the case of under-construction, non-affordable, or luxury houses, the GST rate was lowered to 5%, with no input tax credit (ITC). This makes luxury homes a bit more affordable, but it also removes the incentive of tax offsets. Nevertheless, the exemptions from GST still apply to owners of ready-to-move-in and resale properties, allowing second-hand consumers to benefit financially.
Source: Livemint
Impact On Under-Construction Property
Normal abatement: 33% land, 67% building.
GST on the value of construction would reduce cascading taxes and lead to a more accurate addition of costs.
ITC on materials benefits builders as the cost of construction reduces, and these savings are typically passed on to buyers.
Impact On Registration Charges And Stamp Duty
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) does not provide coverage for registration fees, as well as stamp duty on property transfers. These are the charges levied at the state level, and the purchaser must bear these additional costs.
The general registration charges are between 0.5% and 1% of the market value of the property, while stamp duty ranges from 5% to 8% according to the state and nature of the property. These fees are to be charged on both under-construction and completed properties, which increases the overall transaction cost. These statutory expenses are mandatory and should be factored into the budget by the buyers, as they are obligatory.
Source: ClearTax
GST Calculation On Real Estate
Calculation formula:
GST payable = (Value of property – Abatement of 33% on land) × GST rate
For a ₹1,000 m under-construction sale:
GST is divided equally between CGST and SGST under India's dual GST regime.
Source: Livemint
GST Exemptions On Real Estate
Ready-to-move-in and resale property
Land purchases
Joint development agreements might be subject to GST if being sold pre-completion, recently upheld by the Patna HC (May 2025).
Source: Economic Times
Key Points To Know About GST In Real Estate
Only under‑construction properties are subject to GST
Low-cost under-construction: 1% without ITC; Non-affordable: 5% without ITC
ITC benefits assist developers in bringing down the costs
Registration and stamp duty continue to be outside GST
Joint development agreements could attract GST, clarified by the recent ruling of the Patna HC
Source: Livemint
Conclusion
GST has created additional transparency and congruence in taxation in case of real estate. The 2019 rate reductions significantly helped to curb the outflow of taxes on semi-constructed buildings, particularly in the affordable segment. The tax credits for input tax will encourage more developers, whereas the exemption for finished and land properties will maintain cost transparency, making the industry more buyer- and developer-friendly.