GST in Kochi: CGST, Kerala SGST, and IGST — FY 2025-26 Guide
Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Kochi, Kerala operates under a dual structure administered jointly by the Government of India and Kerala state government. Whether you are a business owner in the Infopark Kakkanad / SmartCity area, a consumer buying services inKochi, or a freelancer invoicing clients across India, the applicable GST component — CGST + Kerala SGST or IGST — depends on whether the supply is intra-state or inter-state. Kerala has India's joint-highest stamp duty at 8% + 2% registration = 10% total (tied with some Kochi zones) — making it the most expensive state for property registration. Kerala also has India's highest NRI remittance dependency: approximately $20 billion annually, primarily from the Gulf, representing nearly 35% of Kerala's GDP. Federal Bank and South Indian Bank headquartered in Kerala offer among India's best NRE FD rates.
CGST vs Kerala SGST vs IGST: How It Works in Kochi
The fundamental rule:
- Intra-state supply (supplier and recipient both in Kerala): GST = CGST (central government) + Kerala SGST (Kerala government), each at half the total GST rate. On a Rs 1,00,000 invoice at 18%: CGST Rs 9,000 (9%) + Kerala SGST Rs 9,000 (9%).
- Inter-state supply (supplier in Kerala, recipient in another state, or vice versa): GST = IGST at the full rate. Same Rs 1,00,000 invoice at 18%: IGST = Rs 18,000 (18%), all to central government (then apportioned to destination state).
- Import of services: IGST under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) — the recipient in Kochi pays GST to the government. Common for Kochi's businesses using foreign software, cloud services, or overseas consultants.
GST Rates Applicable to Kochi's Economy
The four main GST rate slabs apply uniformly across Kochi:
- 5% GST: Essential goods and basic services. For Kochi: non-AC restaurant meals (no ITC for restaurant), economy hotel stays (room rate below Rs 7,500/night), packaged foods with certain HSN codes, economy air travel (excluding fuel surcharge), electric vehicles, and textile goods below Rs 1,000.
- 12% GST: Mid-range goods and services. Relevant for Kochi: hotel stays Rs 7,500–12,000/night, processed food, computers and laptops (with exceptions), smartphones above Rs 20,000 category, business class air travel, construction of affordable housing.
- 18% GST: Most services and manufactured goods. This is the dominant GST rate for Kochi's IT/ITES sector — IT services, consulting, financial services, insurance (excl. life insurance), telecom, steel, chemicals, paints, AC restaurants, hotel stays above Rs 12,000/night.
- 28% GST: Luxury and demerit goods. Kochi: automobiles (plus cess), luxury hotels, tobacco products, gambling and racing activities, luxury cement. Plus additional cess on many 28% items.
IT/ITES Sector GST in Kochi
Kochi's IT/ITES sector has specific GST implications that businesses and professionals here must navigate:
- Gold and jewellery: 3% GST on gold (fine gold, ornaments, bars). On Rs 5,00,000 worth of gold: GST = Rs 15,000. Making charges on jewellery attract 5% GST: on Rs 50,000 making charges, GST = Rs 2,500.
- No ITC on gold: Jewellers cannot claim Input Tax Credit on gold purchased — making accurate job work and valuation critical for Kochi's jewellery trade.
- Professional and consulting services: 18% GST under SAC 9983/9985. Freelancers and consultants in Kochi billing above Rs 20L/year must register for GST and charge 18% CGST + Kerala SGST on domestic invoices.
- Commercial property rent: If annual commercial rent in Kochiexceeds Rs 20L and the landlord is a GST-registered entity, 18% GST applies. At estimated commercial rents of Rs 37,500/month in Kochi, annual commercial rent is Rs 4,50,000. Annual commercial rent is below Rs 20L — GST on rent may not apply if the landlord is under threshold.
Input Tax Credit (ITC) for Kochi Businesses
GST-registered businesses in Kochi can claim Input Tax Credit on GST paid for goods and services used in their business. ITC rules in Kerala:
- CGST paid can offset CGST or IGST liability; Kerala SGST paid can offset Kerala SGST or IGST; IGST can offset any GST liability (IGST first, then CGST, then SGST).
- Conditions for ITC: Valid tax invoice, goods/services received, GST filed by supplier (reflected in GSTR-2B), and payment made to supplier within 180 days.
- ITC blocked items: Motor vehicles (for personal use), employee-related food and beverages, club memberships, health insurance for employees (unless mandatory under law), works contract for immovable property.
- ITC reconciliation: GSTR-2B (auto-populated) vs your purchase register must be reconciled monthly. Mismatch can lead to ITC disallowance and penalty — a critical compliance task for Kochi's MSMEs and large businesses alike.
GST Registration Threshold and Compliance for Kochi
GST registration is mandatory in Kerala when aggregate turnover exceeds:
- Rs 40 lakh/year for goods suppliers (Rs 20L for special category states — not applicable to Kerala).
- Rs 20 lakh/year for service providers.
- Any threshold for inter-state supplies, e-commerce operators, or businesses with taxable supplies despite low turnover.
Kochi freelancers and consultants in the IT/ITES sector who provide services to clients in other states must register for GST irrespective of turnover — even a single inter-state invoice triggers mandatory registration. Return filing: GSTR-1 (monthly/quarterly for outward supplies) + GSTR-3B (monthly summary + tax payment) + GSTR-9 (annual reconciliation). Businesses in Kochi with turnover above Rs 5 crore must file GSTR-1 monthly. Below Rs 5 crore, quarterly GSTR-1 filing is available under the QRMP scheme.
Composition Scheme: For Small Kochi Businesses
Small Kochi businesses with annual turnover below Rs 1.5 crore (goods) or Rs 50 lakh (services) can opt for the Composition Scheme — pay a fixed percentage of turnover as GST (1% for goods, 6% for services including restaurants) without ITC. Composition dealers cannot raise a tax invoice or collect GST from customers, and cannot supply inter-state. This suits small retailers, restaurants, and service providers inKochi's Kakkanad and Edappally local markets who do primarily local business.
Disclaimer
GST rates and rules are based on notifications effective as of FY 2025-26. Specific HSN/SAC codes may attract different rates. Special economic zone (SEZ) supplies are zero-rated. E-invoicing is mandatory above certain turnover thresholds. Consult a GST practitioner or Chartered Accountant in Kochi for business-specific compliance guidance.