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GST on event management servicesWhat is the GST rate on event management services?

The rate, the SAC code, whether you pay CGST and SGST or IGST, and the lines on an event invoice that are taxed differently.

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The short answer

GST on event management, in one paragraph

Event management services in India attract 18% GST — 9% CGST plus 9% SGST within a state, or 18% IGST across states — under SAC 998596, “events, exhibitions, conventions and trade shows organisation and assistance services”. The September 2025 GST rate changes did not alter this rate.

The rate comes from heading 9985 (support services) of Notification 11/2017-Central Tax (Rate), item (iii), at 9% CGST (Notification 11/2017-CT(Rate), heading 9985), with matching SGST. The 56th GST Council meeting moved India to a two-rate structure of 18% and 5% from 22 September 2025; its list of service-rate changes did not include event or support services (EY Tax Alert, 4 Sep 2025). This is general information, not tax advice. Rules change; your tax adviser confirms treatment for your invoice.

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How we bill

Invoices your finance team can process without a call

  • GST-registered, with SAC and tax shown on every line
  • Fee, pass-through costs and rooms on separate lines
  • Tax shown on every total you are asked to approve
  • Final invoice reconciled against the approved estimate
Line by line

GST rate for each line of an event invoice

An event bill is rarely one supply. Here is how the usual lines are treated.

Line on the invoiceUsual GST treatmentSource
Event management or organising fee18% (9% CGST + 9% SGST, or 18% IGST) under SAC 998596, heading 9985 support servicesSAC list; Notification 11/2017-CT(Rate), heading 9985
Bundled event package sold to delegates or exhibitorsTreated in an advance ruling as one composite supply under SAC 998596 at 18%advance ruling
Hotel rooms of ₹7,500 or less per unit per day, billed by the hotel5% without input tax credit from 22 September 2025 (was 12% with credit)EY Tax Alert, 4 Sep 2025
Sponsorship of an event, paid to the organiser by a companyRecipient pays the tax under reverse charge when it is a body corporate or partnership firmGujarat AAR, 2022
Venue hire, catering, flights, equipment hireEach carries its own rate and rules when billed separatelyCheck line by line

General position, last checked October 2026. Classification depends on the contract and how each line is billed. Rules change; confirm treatment for your invoice with your tax adviser.

CGST + SGST or IGST

Event organisers’ GST: which tax applies where

The place of supply for event services follows the client’s registration, not the venue — when the client is GST-registered.

Arithmetic illustration, not tax advice.
Who is billedWhere the event isPlace of supplyTax on a ₹5,00,000 fee from a Karnataka supplier
Company registered in KarnatakaBangaloreKarnataka (recipient’s location)₹45,000 CGST + ₹45,000 SGST
Company registered in KarnatakaGoaKarnataka (recipient’s location)₹45,000 CGST + ₹45,000 SGST
Company registered in KeralaBangaloreKerala (recipient’s location)₹90,000 IGST
Unregistered clientGoaGoa (where the event is held)₹90,000 IGST

Rule from IGST Act s.12(7): for organising a conference, exhibition, celebration or similar event, the place of supply is the recipient’s location if registered, otherwise where the event is held. Events across several states are apportioned.

Checklist for finance

What a GST-ready event invoice should show

Finance teams reject event invoices for the same few reasons. Ask for these up front.

  • Supplier’s legal name and GSTIN, and your GSTIN and billing address exactly as registered.
  • SAC code on each service line — 998596 for event management.
  • Taxable value, rate and tax amount on each line, with CGST/SGST or IGST shown separately.
  • Hotel rooms, flights and pass-through costs shown separately from the management fee.
  • Advance receipts and the final invoice reconciled, so tax is not charged twice.
  • Input tax credit: eligibility depends on each line and its business use — confirm with your tax adviser before you plan around it.
FAQ

Questions people ask before they book

What is the GST rate for event management companies?
18%: 9% CGST plus 9% SGST when supplier and client are in the same state, or 18% IGST otherwise. The service code is SAC 998596 (SAC list). Hotel rooms, flights and goods bought for the event may carry different rates when billed separately.
What is the SAC code for event management services?
SAC 998596 — “events, exhibitions, conventions and trade shows organisation and assistance services” — under heading 9985, support services. Ask your supplier to print it on each service line, so your finance team does not have to query the classification before paying.
Did GST 2.0 change the rate on event management?
No. The changes effective 22 September 2025 cut some service rates, including hotel rooms up to ₹7,500 a night to 5% without credit, but event and support services were not on the list of changes (EY Tax Alert, 4 Sep 2025). They remain at 18%.
We are a Bangalore company holding our offsite in Goa. Do we pay Goa GST?
Not on the event management fee, if you are GST-registered. For organising events, the place of supply is the registered client’s location (IGST Act s.12(7)), so a Karnataka supplier billing a Karnataka-registered company charges CGST and SGST. Rooms billed directly by a Goa hotel follow the hotel’s rules.
What is the dealer meet HSN or SAC code?
The event service is SAC 998596. Gifts, trophies and merchandise bought for the meet are goods with their own HSN codes and rates, so ask for them on separate lines and check each with your tax adviser. See what a dealer meet is.
Is stage setup taxed separately from event management?
If it is part of the event-management contract, it is usually invoiced with the event service. Billed separately as equipment hire, it may carry a different code. Ask the supplier to show the SAC on each line and confirm with your tax adviser.
Do sponsors pay GST on event sponsorship?
When a company sponsors an event, the tax is generally paid by the sponsor under reverse charge if it is a body corporate or partnership firm, as one advance ruling notes (Gujarat AAR, 2022). Check your specific contract with your tax adviser.
The brief

Tell us about the event

Rough is fine. Headcount, a city, a month. We come back with venue options, a format and a cost range you can take to your leadership — before you commit to anything.

  • Itemised estimate: venue, food, production, logistics and our fee as separate lines
  • Venue options checked for your date, headcount and layout
  • GST invoicing for your finance team

Rather talk? +91 77669 40021 · WhatsApp · info@paniproductions.com

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