GST collection rises modestly as appeal deadline pushed forward

The extension of the GSTAT appeal deadline to 31 July 2026 has been accompanied by encouraging signs in tax collection. In May 2026, gross GST receipts increased by 3.2% year‑on‑year, reaching ₹1.94 lakh crore, while net GST grew 3.3% to ₹1.67 lakh crore. Refunds under the GST scheme also showed a 2.6% rise, amounting to ₹27,281 crore. Direct tax collection figures for the period from 1 April to 17 June 2026 surged 14.64% to ₹5.21 lakh crore on a comparable basis, with gross direct tax revenue climbing 12.46% to ₹6.10 lakh crore. The Finance Ministry linked these improvements to robust compliance and the recent extension, which was announced after the GSTAT portal experienced technical strain due to a backlog of roughly 30,000 appeals filed in just fifteen days, sometimes exceeding 5,500 daily entries. The ministry continues to advise taxpayers to file their appeals early to avoid bottlenecks.