GST on International Air tickets issued in India?
Feb 16, 2022, 12:14 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
2. Applicable GST rate for economy is 5% and for business/first is 12%.
Feb 16, 2022, 1:13 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,649
I remember reading about this a few years ago. IATA claimed that charging GST on international flights would be in violation of international norms. Not sure if that was pulled back or not.
Feb 16, 2022, 1:28 am
#4
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,130
Local taxes like VAT/GST/etc are usually never charged on international flights (pax and consumables like fuel, food, drinks etc). This only applies on domestic flights.
Feb 16, 2022, 2:36 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,716
Thanks gentlemen for confirming what I had thought as well; but since you all know India so well, you ought to know that India (and the Modi government) dances to different tunes, with scant regard for international norms!
I am planning to buy a ticket and the local T/A claims that GST is payable. Before challenging her, I thought I would check with the experts here.
I am planning to buy a ticket and the local T/A claims that GST is payable. Before challenging her, I thought I would check with the experts here.
Feb 16, 2022, 3:26 am
#6
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,130
GST is applicable on the services provided by the TA. in 2019 I paid 90 Rs GST on the 500 Rs service charge. 🤦♂️😂
Feb 16, 2022, 3:30 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
Then why is United asking for GST information if they are not charging GST for tickets purchased ex-India?
I think they are indeed charging GST on international tickets, see here:
Airfare:
178965.00 INR
Equivalent Airfare:
2373.00 USD
U.S. Transportation Tax:
39.40 USD
India GST International:
361.10 USD
India Passenger Service Charge:
2.91 USD
India Aviation Security Fee:
14.16 USD
India Development Fee:
11.30 USD
I think they are indeed charging GST on international tickets, see here:
Airfare:
178965.00 INR
Equivalent Airfare:
2373.00 USD
U.S. Transportation Tax:
39.40 USD
India GST International:
361.10 USD
India Passenger Service Charge:
2.91 USD
India Aviation Security Fee:
14.16 USD
India Development Fee:
11.30 USD
Last edited by SuperFlyBoy; Feb 16, 2022 at 3:40 am
Feb 17, 2022, 4:26 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
Then why is United asking for GST information if they are not charging GST for tickets purchased ex-India?
I think they are indeed charging GST on international tickets, see here:
Airfare:
178965.00 INR
Equivalent Airfare:
2373.00 USD
U.S. Transportation Tax:
39.40 USD
India GST International:
361.10 USD
India Passenger Service Charge:
2.91 USD
India Aviation Security Fee:
14.16 USD
India Development Fee:
11.30 USD
I think they are indeed charging GST on international tickets, see here:
Airfare:
178965.00 INR
Equivalent Airfare:
2373.00 USD
U.S. Transportation Tax:
39.40 USD
India GST International:
361.10 USD
India Passenger Service Charge:
2.91 USD
India Aviation Security Fee:
14.16 USD
India Development Fee:
11.30 USD
For tickets for which any part of the travel is in India, I think GoI would have a right to tax. As you have posted in the example above there is also a US tax for the same flight.
Feb 17, 2022, 4:37 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
I read OP's situation ("wholly international air tickets") to mean that no part of travel takes place in India (for instance tickets booked on UA using Flying Returns miles and issued by AI).
For tickets for which any part of the travel is in India, I think GoI would have a right to tax. As you have posted in the example above there is also a US tax for the same flight.
For tickets for which any part of the travel is in India, I think GoI would have a right to tax. As you have posted in the example above there is also a US tax for the same flight.
Sorry, the initial comments weren't very clear - now understand that we are discussing tickets issued in India but no travel in/ex-India...
Feb 17, 2022, 9:27 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,716
Yes, that is correct I am talking about a Delhi / USA / Delhi ticket which has no other stops in India.
Feb 17, 2022, 11:26 am
#11
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,130
I just did a random CCU ARN booking in LH and it seems they are charging GST
Aviation Tax
3,432 INR
International/Domestic Surcharge
27,370 INR
User Development Fee
1,655 INR
Aviation Security Fee
1,068 INR
Passenger Charge
1,303 INR
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
7,486 INR
Passenger Service Charge - Intl
3,300 INR
Fuel and Security Surcharge
120 INR
The German Aviation Security Charge is refundable if you are a transfer passenger arriving from the USA, Canada or Montenegro in Frankfurt without undergoing an additional security check by the Federal Police. For refund of this fee please contact the Service center
850 INR
Fuel and Security Surcharge
180 INR
3,432 INR
International/Domestic Surcharge
27,370 INR
User Development Fee
1,655 INR
Aviation Security Fee
1,068 INR
Passenger Charge
1,303 INR
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
7,486 INR
Passenger Service Charge - Intl
3,300 INR
Fuel and Security Surcharge
120 INR
The German Aviation Security Charge is refundable if you are a transfer passenger arriving from the USA, Canada or Montenegro in Frankfurt without undergoing an additional security check by the Federal Police. For refund of this fee please contact the Service center
850 INR
Fuel and Security Surcharge
180 INR
Feb 17, 2022, 12:01 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
Feb 17, 2022, 1:40 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
Feb 17, 2022, 2:02 pm
#15
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,130
A simple FRA DEL return also has GST
This is a list of all the taxes, fees & surcharges payable per person.
Per adult
International/Domestic Surcharge 27,326 INR User Development Fee 63 INR Aviation Security Fee 1,064 INR Passenger Service Fee 91 INR Goods and Services Tax (GST) 3,904 INR Passenger Service Charge - Intl 3,036 INR Air Transport Tax 4,973 INR The German Aviation Security Charge is refundable if you are a transfer passenger arriving from the USA, Canada or Montenegro in Frankfurt without undergoing an additional security check by the Federal Police. For refund of this fee please contact the Service center 850 INR
Per adult
International/Domestic Surcharge 27,326 INR User Development Fee 63 INR Aviation Security Fee 1,064 INR Passenger Service Fee 91 INR Goods and Services Tax (GST) 3,904 INR Passenger Service Charge - Intl 3,036 INR Air Transport Tax 4,973 INR The German Aviation Security Charge is refundable if you are a transfer passenger arriving from the USA, Canada or Montenegro in Frankfurt without undergoing an additional security check by the Federal Police. For refund of this fee please contact the Service center 850 INR