# Facebook ads in India: GST, TDS, UPI and key dates

> What changes when you run Facebook ads in India: GST and TDS on Meta's bill, UPI and NetBanking, Ad Library rules, time zone and selling dates from Diwali 2026.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-10-28
- **Category**: South Asia
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-markets/meta-ads-in-india

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Facebook ads in India run in Meta Ads Manager like anywhere else, but Meta adds GST and TDS (tax deducted at source) to the bill for Indian accounts, and you can pay by UPI or NetBanking. The next big selling date is Diwali on Sunday 8 November 2026.

## Facts that differ in India (checked 2026-10-20)

| Fact | India |
|---|---|
| Ad transparency | The [Meta Ad Library](/glossary/meta-ad-library) shows every active ad. Ads about social issues, elections or politics need [advertiser authorisation](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/208949576550051?country_select=IN) and a "Paid for by" label, and stay in the Library for seven years. |
| Tax on Meta's bill | If the "Sold by" name on your receipt is Facebook India, Meta adds GST and TDS at the local rate ([Meta: taxes by country](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/133076073434794)). Adding your GST number (GSTIN) is optional, but you need it to claim the GST back as input tax credit ([Meta: India GST](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1273346946097087)). |
| Main languages | Hindi in Devanagari script is the Union's official language, and the Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages ([Constitution of India](https://www.legislative.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/07/ca7ce5c746fa7480804bbdeb6cb704f0.pdf)). |
| Popular platforms | Ad reach in late 2025: YouTube 500 million, Instagram 481 million, Facebook 403 million ([DataReportal](https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2026-india)). Ad reach is the audience each platform's ad tool reports, not active users. |
| Payments Meta accepts | Amex, Mastercard and Visa cards, plus NetBanking and UPI if the account is set to India and rupees ([Meta](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1410784518969094)). |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 all year, no daylight saving ([IANA tz database 2026e](https://www.iana.org/time-zones)). |

## Key selling dates (checked 2026-10-20)

- **Diwali:** Sunday 8 November 2026, a gazetted holiday. Plan the run-up around [Dhanteras](/campaigns/dhanteras-ad-ideas) and Bhai Dooj.
- **Guru Nanak's Birthday:** Tuesday 24 November 2026.
- **Black Friday:** Friday 27 November 2026 ([ideas and plan](/campaigns/black-friday-ad-ideas)).
- **Christmas Day:** Friday 25 December 2026.

Diwali, Guru Nanak's Birthday and Christmas Day come from the [Government of India holiday list for 2026](https://dfe.gov.in/uploads/documents/list-of-gazetted-holidays-2026.pdf).

## What to run and when

Say you plan INR 3,00,000 for the Diwali window, 20 October to 8 November. You put INR 60,000 into the first week to test three hooks, INR 1,80,000 into the middle two weeks behind the hook that wins, and INR 60,000 into the last three days for offers and delivery dates. Launch tests early, because festive weeks get crowded and new ads need time to settle.

Selling across South Asia or the Gulf too? Read the [Bangladesh](/markets/meta-ads-in-bangladesh) and [UAE](/markets/meta-ads-in-uae) pages, because tax and payment rules change at each border.

To see what rival brands run before you spend, search the Ad Library by hand. We make Marxx, which [tracks competitor ads](/features/competitor-tracking) on Meta and Google in one place.

## Common mistakes

- Forgetting TDS. The amount Meta charges includes TDS, but you still pay it to the government. Send Meta the TDS certificate and the refund comes back as ad credit.
- Leaving the GSTIN blank when you are GST-registered and want input tax credit.
- Choosing a card when you wanted UPI. You can add a manual payment method only when you first set up the ad account.
- Starting festive tests on the day of the festival.

## FAQ

### Does Meta charge GST on ads in India?

Yes. When Facebook India sells the ads to an account billed in India, Meta adds GST and TDS at the applicable rate. Its help page names no rate, so confirm it with your tax adviser.

### Can I pay for Facebook ads with UPI?

Yes, if the ad account's country is India, its currency is rupees, and you pick UPI when you first set up the account.

### Is the Ad Library open to anyone in India?

Yes. Anyone can view and search it. It lists all active ads, not only Indian ones.

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