The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has issued the official study guidelines for Intermediate Paper 3, Section B: Goods and Services Tax (GST), applicable for the September 2025 examination cycle. The updated guidelines incorporate the latest legislative changes and clarify key exclusions from the syllabus to help students better prepare.
Applicability of Law
As per the ICAI notification, the provisions of the CGST Act, 2017 and IGST Act, 2017, as amended by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024, will be applicable for the September 2025 examination. Any amendments effective up to February 28, 2025, including relevant notifications and circulars, are within the scope of the exam.
Key Exclusions from the Syllabus
To streamline student efforts and avoid unnecessary complexity, ICAI has provided a topic-wise list of exclusions from the syllabus. These include:
- Charge of Tax & Reverse Charge: Tax rates for goods and services under CGST and IGST Acts, and categories of supplies liable to reverse charge are excluded.
- Exemptions: Exemptions for the supply of goods are not part of the syllabus.
- Place of Supply: Rules related to import/export, OIDAR services, and supplies to tourists are excluded.
- Time of Supply: Provisions regarding changes in the tax rate are not included.
- Value of Supply: Detailed valuation rules under Rules 27-35 of the CGST Rules, 2017 are excluded.
- Input Tax Credit (ITC): Several provisions including those related to banking companies, ISD, job work, and Gold dore bars have been excluded.
Importantly, ICAI clarified that rates for composition levy computation remain part of the syllabus.
Study Material and Updates
Students are advised to rely only on the October 2024 edition of the Study Material and the Statutory Update for September 2025, which will include any amendments notified up to the cut-off date of February 28, 2025.
ICAI also emphasized that any provisions related to excluded topics, even if appearing in other syllabus sections, are also deemed excluded. For instance, since ISD provisions are excluded under ITC, the related registration and return filing requirements under other topics are also not examinable.
What This Means for Students
These guidelines aim to simplify preparation and ensure focus on core GST concepts, while aligning with the latest legal framework. Students should pay close attention to the updated scope and exclusions while preparing for the upcoming exam cycle.
Official copy of the notification has also been attached
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