The Indian government will soon issue a notification ensuring that bricks and tobacco products continue to attract existing goods and services tax (GST) rates of 12% and 28%, respectively. The move comes even as the new GST regime eliminates these slabs, effective September 22, 2025, as part of a broader reform plan.
According to senior government officials, the notification has already been cleared at the departmental level. It is expected to receive final approval from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman before its release, likely on September 17.
“Since the 12% bracket is being scrapped under GST 2.0, a clarification is necessary to ensure bricks continue to be taxed at the existing rate,” an official explained. The government has opted to carve out exceptions rather than move these products into the standard slabs.
While the 28% slab is being scrapped, tobacco will continue under the existing rate with a compensation cess until pandemic borrowings are repaid. Currently, the total tax burden on the tobacco sector is approximately 53% which includes the GST, cess, excise duty, and other duties.
After the repayment of loans, the GST incidence will be 40% along with a new levy to have the same incidence.
Tobacco continues to be an important contributor to government revenues at Rs 51,000 crore in GST annually and approximately Rs 27,660 crore in cesses and surcharges.
The proposed change to GST 2.0 will change the structure of the system to a simpler two-slab form of 5% and 18% and a 40% rate for sin and luxury goods.
The overall objective of the revamp is to rationalise the tax system, which will remove anomalies in the same and align levies to the changing patterns of consumption.
The government is working to establish a more stable and predictable tax environment by removing the 12% and 28% tax rates. But the carveouts for bricks and tobacco show the need to reconcile improved tax policy with revenue needs.
Also Read: GST 2.0 Overhaul: Who Wins and Who Loses Under India’s Biggest Tax Reform Yet?
Launched in 2017 to compensate for revenue loss, following GST, it was imposed on sin and luxury goods, including tobacco, coal, aerated drinks, and automobiles. The Centre relied on borrowing against future cess collections to fund states, and also extended this borrowing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With repayments underway, the cess is expected to be fully phased out by March 2026, paving the way for a more streamlined GST architecture.
The Indian government is taking a cautious reform stance by maintaining existing GST rates on bricks and tobacco. Although most goods will soon be moved to standard slabs, two categories will continue to be subject to levies. These levies help secure revenue. They also address concerns in price-sensitive areas of the economy, additionally supporting public health policies.