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Zomato, Swiggy Users Were Crying Over ‘Rain Fee Under GST 2.0’. Then A Solution Entered Chat: ‘Dial Your...’
Zomato, Swiggy Users Were Crying Over ‘Rain Fee Under GST 2.0’. Then A Solution Entered Chat: ‘Dial Your...’
Your online food orders just got a little pricier. Fees on platforms like Swiggy and Zomato are subject to 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) effective from September 22. The decision, part of a broader GST Council reform, has already started affecting bills.
The change caught the attention of social media users with one post on X (formerly Twitter) that takes a humorous dig at the new tax rules.
“After historic GST reforms, even Lord Indra has been brought under the tax net. Now when in rains, you get Rs 25 Rain Fee + 18% GST = Rs 29.50. Next up: Sunlight Convenience Fee, Oxygen Maintenance Charge GST on Breathing, Pay as you inhale," the user wrote.
He also shared a screenshot of the typical costs applied to his order: Restaurant GST at Rs 14.75, delivery rain fee of Rs 25 with Rs 4.50 GST, restaurant packaging at Rs 20 and a platform fee of Rs 14.99.
See The Post Here
Social Media's Take Is Priceless (Literally)
The post gained significant attention online as it accumulated more than one lakh views and plenty of witty comments.
One user added to the original joke, saying, “Next coming up: Calling bell fee, Petrol/diesel/gas fee, Riders vehicle EMI fee, Potholes avoidance fee and Traffic wait fee."
Another added, “Next, they'll add a ‘Smiling Tax' for happiness and a ‘Blink Charge' for every eye blink."
“True! At this rate, even sneezing will be a taxable event. ‘One sneeze – Rs 5 health cess + 18 per cent GST'. Government treasury = always green, citizens = always broke!" someone else remarked.
“How does an Rs 25 delivery charge ensure smooth delivery by the executive? Also, when was GST introduced on the rain fee? If the rain fee is meant for the delivery executive, how is GST applicable on it?" a person asked.
Meanwhile, an individual had a blunt take on the situation, suggesting a simple alternative: “Pick up that phone and dial your local Kirana store. He still does free delivery. What kind of people are you guys? Khudka koi dimaag hai bhi ki nahi? (Do you even have any common sense?)."
Why Your Swiggy And Zomato Orders Cost More
The increase in your food delivery bills comes from a change in how GST applies to online orders. The GST Council has now brought local e-commerce delivery services under section 9(5) of the Central GST Act. This means that the electronic commerce operator (ECO) must pay GST on the delivery services it provides, even if the ECO itself isn't directly supplying the service.
Earlier, delivery charges were often treated as simple “pass-through" payments to the delivery partner, and GST was applied inconsistently.
Under the new rules, every delivery fee now attracts 18 per cent GST. According to NDTV, citing Morgan Stanley, Zomato's average delivery fee in fiscal 2025 was around Rs 11-12, which adds about Rs 2 in GST. Swiggy's average fee of Rs 14.5 means an extra Rs 2.6 in tax.
For quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit, delivery charges were already taxed, so there is no additional impact. Swiggy Instamart, with its smaller fee of Rs 4 per order, sees a GST addition of roughly Rs 0.8.
Source: News18
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