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DIFFERENCE: Nil-Rated, Zero-Rated, Non-Taxable and Exempt Supplies



1. Nil-Rated Supply

Supply of goods and/or services (or both) which attract 0% GST rate is known as nil-rated supply. This comes under the Schedule I of the GST Act and includes goods like select food items or human blood.

  • Availability of Input Tax Credit: There is no tax credit input available for nil-rated supplies for inputs and/or input services provided by nil-rated supply. In simpler terms, GST credit is not available to the registered dealer.

  • GST Applicability: GST on nil-rated supplies is not applicable, therefore cannot be claimed.

  • Examples: Salt, jaggery, grains are some examples of goods included in the nil-rated supply.




2. Zero Rated Supply

Any supplies of goods or services (or both) meant for Export or Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Developer or Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Unit comes under Zero-rated supply. The zero-rated supplies tax makes Indian goods and services available in international markets at a competitive price, thus ensuring no additional taxes are included in the cost of exports.

  • Availability of Input Tax Credit: ITC can be claimed in zero-rated supply.

  • GST Applicability: There are two ways that GST is applicable in zero-rated supplies;

(i) The use of LOU (Letter of undertaking) and claiming a refund of unutilised GST for goods and services without any payment of GST. (ii) Paying IGST for supply of goods and services and then claiming a refund for the IGST paid on the supplies.


3. Non-Taxable Su


pply (Non-GST Supply)

The supply of goods and/or services that are not included under the GST Act is known as non-taxable supply. These goods and/or services may be charged under the local sales tax or any other Act.

  • Availability of Input Tax Credit: The goods and/or services under non-taxable supplies do not have any tax input credit, and hence it can’t be claimed.

  • GST Applicability: GST for goods and/or services under non-taxable supply is not applicable.

  • Examples: Alcohol for human consumption and petroleum products are the only goods included under non-taxable supply.

4. Exempted Supply



Supply of goods and services that attract no tax rate or are specifically exempted from the GST Act due to government notification and include non-taxable supply are called exempted supply. In other words, it is the supply of goods and/or services which do not attract GST.

  • Availability of Input Tax Credit: With respect to input and/or input services that are used for making availability of exempt supplies, no input credit can be claimed.

  • GST Applicability: For goods and services under exempted supply, GST is not applicable.

  • Examples: Exempted supply include puja samagri, cereals and live animals (except horses).


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