Tax is the part creators avoid thinking about — until it matters. Here's a plain-English overview of GST on online courses in India. (This is general information, not tax advice — check with a CA for your situation.)
What GST is
GST — Goods and Services Tax — is India's tax on the supply of goods and services, including many digital products like online courses.
When it may apply
Whether you need to register for and charge GST generally depends on your turnover crossing the registration threshold, and the nature of what you sell. Below the threshold, many small creators aren't required to register; above it, you typically are.
Why your platform choice matters
If your platform also takes a commission or transaction fee, your pricing math gets tangled: you're accounting for the platform's cut and tax. On a 0% platform, the only variables are your price and your tax — much simpler to reason about.
Keep clean records
- Track every sale (your platform should let you export this).
- Keep your invoices and payment-gateway statements.
- Talk to a CA once you're near the threshold.
The Clienteles angle
Clienteles never adds a commission or fee, and your revenue settles directly through your own Razorpay — so your sales records live where your accountant expects them, and your pricing stays simple. For definitions, see our glossary entry on GST.