GST on Under-Construction Property in India (2026)

Buying under construction? Affordable homes are 1% GST and other homes 5% (both without ITC); commercial under-construction is 12% with ITC; a ready-to-move property with a completion certificate carries no GST. Here's the full 2026 guide.

Part of: The Complete GST Guide for Small Business in India (2026)

Property GST hinges on one thing: whether construction is complete. An under-construction home carries GST; a ready-to-move flat with a completion certificate does not. And within under-construction, affordable and other homes have different rates. Here's the 2026 picture for buyers and builders.

Quick answer: affordable under-construction home = 1% (no ITC); other under-construction home = 5% (no ITC); commercial under-construction = 12% (with ITC); ready-to-move (completion certificate) = no GST.

Property GST at a glance

PropertyGSTITC
Affordable under-construction home1%No
Other (non-affordable) under-construction home5%No
Commercial under-construction (shop/office)12%Yes
Ready-to-move with completion certificateNil (no GST)
Resale / secondary propertyNil (no GST)

Why ready-to-move is GST-free

GST is a tax on the supply of under-construction services. Once a project has its completion certificate (or first occupation), a sale is treated as a transfer of immovable property, which is outside GST — only stamp duty and registration apply. That's why a ready-to-move flat has no GST while an under-construction one does.

The no-ITC trade-off on homes

The 1% and 5% residential rates come without input tax credit for the builder — a lower headline rate in exchange for no credit on cement, steel and inputs. Commercial under-construction at 12% allows ITC. The developer's inability to claim ITC on 1%/5% homes is part of why those rates are low.

General information only, not tax advice; definitions (affordable housing limits) and rates can change. Confirm your specific purchase on CBIC/RERA notifications or with your CA. Last reviewed: September 2026.

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