Composition levy
Section 10, CGST Act
Straight from CBIC
Official source, not a summary of a summary
Full text included
Read the exact words of the law yourself
Amendment history
See what changed, and when
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A small taxpayer with previous-year turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore can opt for the composition scheme and pay a flat tax – 1% for manufacturers and traders, 5% for restaurants – instead of normal GST, without collecting tax from customers or taking input tax credit. Service providers/mixed suppliers up to Rs 50 lakh can use the 6% scheme under s.10(2A). Composition dealers cannot make inter-State outward supplies, but since 01-10-2023 they may sell goods through e-commerce operators.
What this means in practice
The parts that actually decide cases — the things a practitioner checks first.
The Rs 1.5 crore limit is Rs 75 lakh for the special category States listed in the notification – check the State before quoting the figure.
A goods composition dealer may supply services up to ten per cent of turnover or Rs 5 lakh, whichever is HIGHER; exceeding that throws him out of the scheme from that day.
Since 01-10-2023 a composition dealer may sell GOODS through an e-commerce operator (Finance (No.8) Act 2023); services through an ECO are still barred.
He cannot make inter-State outward supplies, cannot collect tax, cannot take credit, and must mark every bill of supply ‘composition taxable person, not eligible to collect tax on supplies’.
Reverse charge still applies at the normal rate on his inward supplies – the composition rate covers his outward supplies only.
Compliance is CMP-08 quarterly by the 18th and GSTR-4 annually by 30 June; leaving the scheme means CMP-04 within seven days and ITC-01 within thirty days to claim credit on stock.
Questions people actually ask
Real questions we get on this provision, answered straight.
Our composition client sold goods worth Rs 30 lakh to a buyer in another State.+
That breaks the scheme. A composition taxpayer cannot make inter-State outward supplies; the option lapses from the day of the breach, he must file CMP-04 within seven days and pay normal tax from that day, and he can claim credit on his stock in ITC-01 within thirty days.
Can a composition dealer sell on an online marketplace?+
Goods, yes – since 1 October 2023. Services through an e-commerce operator remain outside the scheme. The operator still collects TCS on the supplies.
How this provision is built
The skeleton, clause by clause — useful when a notice cites a specific sub-clause.
The exact words of the law
6,411 characters, uneditedReproduced from the CBIC text. We explain it above — but you should always be able to read it yourself.
Read the full provision+
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act but subject to the provisions of sub-sections
(3) and
(4) of section 9 , a registered person, whose aggregate turnover in the preceding financial year did not exceed fifty lakh rupees, may opt to pay, 1 [in lieu of the tax payable by him under sub-section
(1) of section 9 , an amount of tax calculated at such rate] as may be prescribed , but not exceeding, –
(a) one percent of the turnover in State or turnover in Union territory in case of a manufacturer,
(b) two and a half percent of the turnover in State or turnover in Union territory in case of persons engaged in making supplies referred to in clause
(b) of paragraph 6 of Schedule II , and
(c) half percent of the turnover in State or turnover in Union territory in case of other suppliers, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed : Provided that the Government may, by notification, increase the said limit of fifty lakh rupees to such higher amount, not exceeding 2 [one crore and fifty lakh rupees], as may be recommended by the Council: 3 [ Provided further that a person who opts to pay tax under clause
(a) or clause
(b) or clause
(c) may supply services (other than those referred to in clause
(b) of paragraph 6 of Schedule II ), of value not exceeding ten per cent. of turnover in a State or Union territory in the preceding financial year or five lakh rupees, whichever is higher]. 4 [ Explanation .- For the purposes of second proviso, the value of exempt supply of services provided by way of extending deposits, loans or advances in so far as the consideration is represented by way of interest or discount shall not be taken into account for determining the value of turnover in a State or Union territory].
(2) The registered person shall be eligible to opt under sub-section (1), if :- 5 [
(a) save as provided in sub-section (1), he is not engaged in the supply of services;]
(b) he is not engaged in making any supply of 12 [****] 6 [services] which are not leviable to tax under this Act;
(c) he is not engaged in making any inter-State outward supplies of goods 7 [or services];
(d) he is not engaged in making any supply of goods 8 [or services] through an electronic commerce operator who is required to collect tax at source under section 52 ; 9 [****]
(e) he is not a manufacturer of such goods as may be notified by the Government on the recommendations of the 10 [Council ;and] 11 [
(f) he is neither a casual taxable person nor a non-resident taxable person:] Provided that where more than one registered persons are having the same Permanent Account Number [issued under the Income-tax Act, 1961(43 of 1961)], the registered person shall not be eligible to opt for the scheme under sub-section
(1) unless all such registered persons opt to pay tax under that sub-section. 11 [(2A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, but subject to the provisions of sub-sections
(3) and
(4) of section 9 , a registered person, not eligible to opt to pay tax under sub-section
(1) and sub-section (2), whose aggregate turnover in the preceding financial year did not exceed fifty lakh rupees, may opt to pay, in lieu of the tax payable by him under sub-section
(1) of section 9 , an amount of tax calculated at such rate as may be prescribed, but not exceeding three per cent. of the turnover in State or turnover in Union territory, if he is not-
(a) engaged in making any supply of goods or services which are not leviable to tax under this Act;
(b) engaged in making any inter-State outward supplies of goods or services;
(c) engaged in making any supply of 13 [****] services through an electronic commerce operator who is required to collect tax at source under section 52 ;
(d) a manufacturer of such goods or supplier of such services as may be notified by the Government on the recommendations of the Council; and
(e) a casual taxable person or a non-resident taxable person: Provided that where more than one registered person are having the same Permanent Account Number issued under the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the registered person shall not be eligible to opt for the scheme under this sub-section unless all such registered persons opt to pay tax under this sub-section.]
(3) The option availed of by a registered person under sub-section
(1) 11 [or subsection (2A), as the case may be,] shall lapse with effect from the day on which his aggregate turnover during a financial year exceeds the limit specified under sub-section
(1) 11 [or sub-section (2A), as the case may be.]
(4) A taxable person to whom the provisions of sub-section
(1) 11 [or, as the case may be, sub-section (2A)] apply shall not collect any tax from the recipient on supplies made by him nor shall he be entitled to any credit of input tax.
(5) If the proper officer has reasons to believe that a taxable person has paid tax under sub-section
(1) 11 [or sub-section (2A), as the case may be,] despite not being eligible, such person shall, in addition to any tax that may be payable by him under any other provisions of this Act, be liable to a penalty and the provisions of section 73 or section 74 14 [ or section 74A] shall, mutatis mutandis , apply for determination of tax and penalty. 11 [ Explanation 1 .- For the purposes of computing aggregate turnover of a person for determining his eligibility to pay tax under this section, the expression "aggregate turnover " shall include the value of supplies made by such person from the 1st day of April of a financial year up to the date when he becomes liable for registration under this Act, but shall not include the value of exempt supply of services provided by way of extending deposits, loans or advances in so far as the consideration is represented by way of interest or discount. Explanation 2 .- For the purposes of determining the tax payable by a person under this section, the expression " turnover in State or turnover in Union territory " shall not include the value of following supplies, namely:-
(i) supplies from the first day of April of a financial year up to the date when such person becomes liable for registration under this Act; and (ii) exempt supply of services provided by way of extending deposits, loans or advances in so far as the consideration is represented by way of interest or discount.]
High Court cases on this section
Judgments in our index that cite this provision. Being listed does not make a case good law — it may have been appealed or distinguished since. Read it before relying on it.
M/s.Gillette Diversified Operations Private Limited v. The Joint commissioner of GST and Central Excise (Appeals-II)
Read the judgment PDF →
NEYVELI LIGNITE CORPORATION v. THE DY COMMERCIAL TAX OFFICER
Read the judgment PDF →
What changed, and when
The amendment trail, newest first — because the version that applies to your case depends on the period.
date not stated · Substituted
Substituted for "one crore rupees" by s. 5 of The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act, 2018 (No. 31 of 2018) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st Februar …
date not stated · Inserted
Inserted by s. 5 of The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act, 2018 (No. 31 of 2018) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st February, 2019.
date not stated · Inserted
1/2020-C.T.
Inserted by s. 93 of The Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (No. 23 of 2019) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2020 vide Notification No. 1/2020-C.T. , dated 01s …
date not stated · Substituted
Substituted for "(a) he is not engaged in the supply of services other than supplies referred to in clause (b) of paragraph 6 of Schedule II save as provided in …
date not stated · Inserted
92/2020-C.T.
Inserted by s. 119 of The Finance Act, 2020 (No. 12 of 2020) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2021 vide Notification No. 92/2020-C.T. dated 22nd Decemb …
date not stated · Inserted
92/2020-C.T.
Inserted by s. 119 of The Finance Act, 2020 (No. 12 of 2020) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2021 vide Notification No. 92/2020-C.T. dated 22nd Decemb …
date not stated · Inserted
92/2020-C.T.
Inserted by s. 119 of The Finance Act, 2020 (No. 12 of 2020) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2021 vide Notification No. 92/2020-C.T. dated 22nd Decemb …
date not stated · Omitted
1/2020-C.T.
Omitted "and" by s. 93 of The Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (No. 23 of 2019) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2020 vide Notification No. 1/2020-C.T. , date …
date not stated · Substituted
1/2020-C.T.
Substituted for – "Council" by s. 93 of The Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (No. 23 of 2019) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2020 vide Notification No. 1/20 …
date not stated · Inserted
1/2020-C.T.
Inserted by s. 93 of The Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (No. 23 of 2019) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st January, 2020 vide Notification No. 1/2020-C.T. , dated 01s …
date not stated · Omitted
28/2023-C.T.
Omitted "goods or" by s. 137 of The Finance (No. 8) Act, 2023 (No. 08 of 2023) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st October, 2023 vide Notification No. 28/2023-C.T.
date not stated · Omitted
28/2023-C.T.
Omitted "goods or" by s. 137 of The Finance (No. 8) Act, 2023 (No. 08 of 2023) – Brought into force w.e.f. 01st October, 2023 vide Notification No. 28/2023-C.T.
date not stated · Inserted
Inserted by section 115 of The Finance Act (No. 2) Act, 2024 No. 15 of 2024 dated 16.08.2024 …
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Text reproduced from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, as available on 2026-09-05. The explanation and practice notes above are GSTZone’s own, written for this hub. If you spot anything out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it — this hub is checked daily against CBIC.
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