EV charging is a taxable supply of service in India. Here's how Chargisthan issues GST-compliant invoices, applies tax correctly, and settles charging revenue to hosts and operators — clearly, and on time.
An illustrative example for a GST-registered host — showing how a driver's payment splits into your earnings and the tax collected on your behalf. Figures are for illustration only.
*Net earning is before any applicable Chargisthan platform fee, which is shown separately in your statement.
As EV charging matures in India, tax rules around it have become clearer — and Chargisthan bills and settles fully in line with them. This page explains, in plain language, how we issue GST-compliant invoices, how tax applies to charging, and how we calculate and pay out settlements to hosts and operators on our platform. It works alongside our Terms & Conditions and Payment Terms.
To stay fully tax-compliant, prices for charging on the Chargisthan app and platform are shown inclusive of applicable taxes. This keeps pricing transparent for drivers and ensures the correct tax is captured on every session and reflected in every invoice and settlement.
If you host or operate chargers on our platform, these updates affect how your earnings are calculated and documented — so it's worth understanding which case below applies to you.
Under current Indian tax practice, charging an electric vehicle at a station is treated as a supply of service (not a sale of electricity as goods), and is taxable under GST — generally at 18%. Because it's a service, the platform and host obligations differ from a simple product sale, which is why settlements are structured the way they are.
Tax rates and classifications can change with government notifications. We update our systems to reflect the prevailing rate, so the tax on your invoices always matches what's currently applicable.
Every applicable transaction generates a proper tax invoice with the details GST law requires, so you and your accountant have exactly what you need:
When drivers pay for charging at your site, the tax-inclusive amount is collected through the platform. We then settle your earnings to your registered bank account, with the tax portion handled according to your registration status. Your statement shows the gross collected, any platform fee, the tax, and your net payout — line by line.
Exactly how the tax portion is treated depends on which of the cases below matches your business.
If you're a GST-registered host and your GSTIN and business details are already saved with us, no further action is needed. We'll continue issuing compliant invoices and settling your net earnings, with GST accounted for correctly against your registration.
If you're registered but haven't shared your GST details yet, please add them so your settlements and invoices are handled correctly:
Until valid details are on file, we may process your settlements on a non-registered basis (see Case D).
If your business operates from a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), specific zero-tax treatment may apply to charging as a service. To enable it, you'll need to submit the required documentation — such as a valid SEZ registration and the applicable undertaking (for example, an LUT) — for our verification.
Once your SEZ status is verified and documented, eligible settlements can be processed with zero GST applied, in line with the rules in force at that time.
For registered businesses outside an SEZ, GST at the prevailing rate (currently 18%) applies to charging as a service. Using the illustration above: if a driver pays ₹118 (tax-inclusive), your net earning is ₹100 and ₹18 is the GST component — documented on a compliant invoice and reflected in your settlement statement (before any platform fee).
If you'd like to register for GST — for instance to claim input credits or because your turnover requires it — you can apply through the official Government of India GST portal at gst.gov.in. Once you have a GSTIN, add it to your Chargisthan profile as in Case B so we can update your settlements.
Whether you need to register, and any tax you owe, depends on your own circumstances. This page is general information, not tax advice — please consult a qualified tax professional.
If you host chargers without a GST registration, your settlements are processed on a non-registered basis: you receive your earnings excluding the tax component, and the platform accounts for the applicable tax obligation on the charging service. You won't be issued a GST invoice in your name for that tax, since you aren't registered to charge it.
Settlements are paid to your registered bank account on the cycle set out in your host or operator agreement — typically on a regular periodic basis once sessions are reconciled and payments have cleared. Each payout is accompanied by a statement so you can match it to sessions and invoices.
Where a session is refunded, corrected, or disputed, we issue a credit note or adjustment against the original invoice so your records — and the tax on them — stay accurate. Any refund to a driver, and its tax effect, is reflected in the relevant settlement cycle. Our approach to refunds is set out in our Payment Terms and Return & Cancellation policy.
Correct settlements depend on correct information. Please keep your GSTIN, legal name, registered address, bank account, and KYC details up to date in your Chargisthan profile, and tell us promptly if anything changes. We're not able to correct tax treatment retrospectively for periods where the details we held were incomplete or inaccurate.
Need help with an invoice, GST detail, or settlement statement? Our team is glad to assist.
📧 Email: care@chargisthan.com
💬 WhatsApp: +91 81074 93232
✆ +91 81074 93232 · 9AM–6PM IST, Mon–Sun
📍 Near Nasrani Petrol Pump, close to Bhadu Market, Jodhpur, Rajasthan – 342014, India