
GST Rate for Headphones and Musical Instruments
Headphones, musical instruments and audio equipment are taxable under GST. Headphones and audio equipment fall under chapter 85 of the HSN code system along with other types of sound recorders and sound re-producers. Musical instruments, on the other hand, fall under chapter 92 along with other musical instrument and part of musical instruments. With GST set to begin in India from 1st July 2017, the GST rate for all goods and services have already been declared by the GST Council. In this article, we look at the GST rate for headphone, audio equipment and musical instruments in detail.
GST Rate for Headphones
Headphones are classified under chapter 85 of the HSN code along with sound recorders and sound re-producers. Under chapter 85, all types of sound recorders and sound reproducing apparatus are taxed at 28% under GST. Hence, the GST rate applicable for headphones would be 28%.
GST Rate for Audio Equipments
Audio equipment like a single loudspeaker, audio-frequency amplifiers, electric sound amplifier sets are taxed at 28% GST.
Also, radios are classified under reception apparatus for radio broadcasting, whether or not combined, in the same housing, with sound recording or reproducing apparatus or a clock. The applicable GST rate for radio would also be 28%.
GST Rate for CDs, DVDs and USB Drives
18% GST is applicable on discs, tapes, solid-state nonvolatile storage devices, "smart cards" and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs.
Click here to know about GST Rate for Fish, Fish Products and SeafoodGST Rate for Musical Instruments
All indigenous handmade musical instruments are not taxable under GST. All other types of musical instruments as classified below are taxable at 28% GST.
- Pianos, including automatic pianos; harpsichords and other keyboard stringed instruments
- Other string musical instruments (for example, guitars, violins, harps).
- Wind musical instruments (for example, keyboard pipe organs, accordions, clarinets, trumpets, bagpipes), other than fairground organs and mechanical street organs
- Percussion musical instruments (for example, drums, xylophones, cymbals, castanets, maracas)
- Musical instruments, the sound of which is produced, or must be amplified, electrically (for example, organs, guitars, accordions)
- Musical boxes, fairground organs, mechanical street organs, mechanical singing birds, musical saws and other musical instruments not falling within any other heading of this chapter; decoy calls of all kinds; whistles, call horns and other mouth-blown sound signalling instruments
- Parts (for example, mechanisms for musical boxes) and accessories (for example, cards, discs and rolls for mechanical instruments) of musical instruments; metronomes, tuning forks and pitch pipes of all kinds.]
Related Guides
Popular Post

Starting a small business can be a transformative venture, offering the exciting opportunity...

Tax deduction at source, shortly and popularly known as TDS, was introduced by the Income Tax...

Goods & Services Tax Certificate is issued to people who are registered under GST...

GST registration applies to all individuals and entities supplying goods or services in India. GST...

Gift tax in India is applied when the value of the received gift exceeds ₹50,000 in the...

The Union Budget 2025 has brought significant changes to India’s personal income tax structure, raising the...

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax system introduced in India in 2017. It functions...

A trademark search is simply checking if another person or organization does not already own the...

Section 194H of the Income Tax Act in India mandates the deduction of Tax at Source (TDS) on commission or brokerage...

Section 80G Deduction is a facility available in the Income Tax Act which allows taxpayers to...

The Income Tax Department (ITD) has not provided specific guidance on crypto taxes for Indian investors. However...

Internal audit applicability is a critical concept for companies in India, impacting various...

In the business world, two main types of companies exist: private company and public company...

Ministry of Finance vide a Notification No 05/2022- Central Tax (Rate) dated 13.7.2022 has issued...

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has recently announced an extension...

Depreciation is a key concept in finance and accounting. It helps us manage how the value of...

Form 10IA of the Income Tax Department must be filed by taxpayers claiming income tax deduction...

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) system in India has been a significant reform in the country's...

India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) benefits significantly from the substantial...

The Finance Act, 2023 introduced the MSME 45-day payment rule under Section 43B(h) of the Income Tax Act...

The Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas (DTVSV) Scheme, 2024, was announced by Union Finance Minister...