# What is GST on Meta ads in India?

> Meta adds GST to your ad charges in India. Where to add your GSTIN, how input tax credit and TDS work, and how GST changes the real cost of your ads.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-02
- **Category**: India
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/gst-on-facebook-ads

---

If your ad account's business country is India, Meta adds GST to your ad charges. Add your GSTIN in Payment settings if you are GST-registered, so you can claim input tax credit. Meta cannot give tax advice, so check the details with your accountant.

## What Meta says (checked 2026-10-20)

- Since October 2018, ads in India are sold by Meta India, billed in rupees, and subject to GST and TDS (tax deducted at source).
- Meta adds GST and TDS whenever it charges you. Its GST page names no GST percentage. Its TDS page gives 2% as the current TDS rate for advertising. [Google's help page](https://support.google.com/paymentscenter/answer/7398224) lists 18% IGST, or 9% CGST plus 9% SGST, for purchases billed by Google India. Check the tax line on your own Meta receipt.
- Entering a GSTIN is not mandatory. If you are registered and want input tax credit, enter the GSTIN of your main state or head office. Credit also depends on other conditions in the law.
- Advertisers in a special economic zone can send Meta a valid SEZ certificate to ask for GST exemption.

## How to add your GSTIN

1. Open Payment settings in Ads Manager. You must be an admin of the ad account.
2. Check that the business country is India.
3. Click Edit next to Business info and enter your 15-character GST number with no spaces.
4. Click Save.

## A worked example

Say Meta charges you INR 1,00,000 for ads in a month, and the GST line on your receipt is 18%. That adds INR 18,000, so you pay INR 1,18,000.

Ads Manager shows a [ROAS](/glossary/roas) of 3.0 on INR 1,00,000, which is INR 3,00,000 in sales.

- With input tax credit, you set the INR 18,000 against your own GST, so the ads cost you INR 1,00,000 and ROAS stays 3.0.
- Without it, the true cost is INR 1,18,000. ROAS on that cost is 3,00,000 / 1,18,000 = **2.54**.

Your [break-even ROAS](/glossary/break-even-roas) should use the cost you really bear. Try it in the [ROAS calculator](/roas-calculator). Check that your sales figure is also on the same GST basis.

## What TDS means

For card, bank or manual payments, the amount charged includes TDS. You still pay TDS to the government. When you give Meta the TDS certificate, Meta refunds it as ad credit. With monthly invoicing, TDS does not show on the invoice, and you withhold and pay it yourself.

If you cannot claim credit, count GST in your [customer acquisition cost](/glossary/cac) too.

## FAQ

### Do I need a GSTIN to run ads in India?

No. Meta says it is not mandatory. You need one only to claim input tax credit.

### Is GST charged on top of my budget?

Meta says it adds GST whenever it charges you for ads. Your receipt shows the final amount.

---
- [More India articles](https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/category/india)
- [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-glossary)