India's GST rates on Educational Institutions (2021) - School, College and Coaching Classes

The Constitution of India obligates the Government to provide and encourage free and compulsory education with an aim to edify basic elementary and primary schooling to each and every child. Thus, the Constitution rules against imposing taxation on educational organizations. However, over the year, the country witnessed a rapid growth in education, increase in the numbers of educational establishments, and huge income opportunities in the industry. This prompted the Government to impose GST rates on educational institutions (Private, Public & Government schools, colleges and training/ coaching/ academy centers) for a few services, without actually disrupting the core values of education.

GST, short for Goods and Service Tax, is an Indirect Tax imposed on all products and ventures, including the education industry, in India. According to the Central Tax Notification guide, GST excludes drawing in taxation on educational services provided by the institutions to students, staff, and faculty such as transportation, academic fee, security, cleaning, housekeeping services, etc. Be that as it may, certain instructive courses and educational programs draw in the Tax. The relevance of this unified service tax filing method relies upon the sort of services and the supplier. The taxation omits any institution relying on or run-by a charitable trust(s).

Educational establishments like pre-schools, schools, and colleges receive an exemption from charging students GST on fees. However, any short-term courses, events/programs or non-convention arrangements draw approximately 18 % of taxation. Moreover, the Tax is applicable to institutions that provide residential lodging and boarding facility, as long as the services are disjoint; in case of a combined system, the taxation is not applicable. Since the administration dictates the dominating element of instruction, the residential arrangements guide un-taxable.

GST rates on education services

Services provided to educational institutions that exempt from GST

Services provided by educational institutions that exempt from GST are:

1. Services provided by an educational institution to its students, faculty, and staff
2. Services provided to an educational institution, by way of,
• transportation of students, faculty, and staff
• catering, including any mid-day meals scheme sponsored by the Central Government, State, Government or Union territory
• security or cleaning or housekeeping services performed in such educational institution
3. services relating to admission to, or conduct of examination by, such institution; up to higher secondary