The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has warned the public against an unauthorised message circulating on social media that falsely claims to be issued by its Chairman.
The misleading message suggested that, beginning September 22, 2025, taxpayers would be eligible for additional transition benefits under the GST regime, including:
- Unutilised cess credit,
- Input Tax Credit (ITC) of exempted supplies, and
- New price adjustment provisions.
In an official statement issued on Sunday, September 7, the CBIC clarified that the contents of the viral message are "factually incorrect and misleading." The Board urged taxpayers, businesses, and industry professionals to rely solely on official government notifications, circulars and FAQs published through its website and recognised channels.
"Any information regarding GST reforms will be communicated through official channels only," CBIC emphasised.
The clarification comes just days after the 56th GST Council meeting, held on September 3, 2025, where the Council approved a major restructuring of GST slabs. Under the new framework, the indirect tax structure has been simplified into two main slabs - 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate for sin goods such as tobacco and luxury products.
These reforms, dubbed GST 2.0, will come into effect on September 22, 2025, and are expected to reduce compliance burdens, simplify tax administration, and boost consumption ahead of the festive season.
Taxpayers are advised to stay vigilant against misinformation and follow only official updates from the CBIC and GST Council.
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