Is a fee charged for conference participation exempted from the GST in India?

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Organising an international conference in India? Even if you're an educational institute, you'll likely need to charge 18% GST on participant registration fees. Specific rulings suggest that these fees, which often cover services like accommodation and meals, are considered taxable supplies and don't fall under standard educational exemptions.

Dr. Pramod K. Singh

Dr. Pramod K. Singh (Querist)
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04 December 2024 Hello Sir, I am currently working at a private educational institute affiliated with AKTU, and we are planning to organize an international conference in December 2025. We have a query regarding whether we are required to pay GST on the registration fees received from participants."

CA R SEETHARAMAN

CA R SEETHARAMAN (Expert)
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04 December 2024 Yes, GST of 18% applicable on conference fees.

Dhirajlal Rambhia

Dhirajlal Rambhia (Expert)
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04 December 2024 While educational institutions may be exempt from GST on certain services, this exemption may not apply to conference-related services, especially if they are not directly related to the core academic activities of the institution.
Specific rulings from authorities have indicated that participation fees charged for conferences organized by educational institutions do not qualify for exemptions under existing GST laws, thereby confirming the requirement to charge GST on such fees.
The services provided during the conference, including participation, accommodation, and meals, are considered taxable supplies under GST. Therefore, the registration fee typically includes these services and is liable for GST @18%.

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