GST on Event Management Services: SAC 998397, 18% Rate & Corporate ITC Rules (2026)

Under Indian GST law, event planning and management services fall under Chapter 99 (Heading 9983):

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   The Turnkey Composite Supply Rule: When an event agency bills a consolidated event package (e.g. ₹15 Lakhs for stage fabrication, sound, lighting, and coordination), the entire invoice is classified under SAC 998397 at 18% GST.

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   Place of Supply (POS) under Section 12(7) of the IGST Act: For registered B2B corporate clients, POS is the location of the recipient; for unregistered B2C clients, POS is the location where the event is actually held.

The table below illustrates a fully compliant B2B tax invoice for a corporate annual conference in Bengaluru, Karnataka:

• Turnkey Event Production & Stage Fabrication (40x12 ft P2.5 LED Screen): ₹4,50,000.00
• Line-Array Audio Trussing & Intelligent Moving-Head Lighting: ₹2,50,000.00
• Celebrity Emcee, Keynote Speaker & Live Musical Band: ₹3,00,000.00
• On-Ground Coordination, RFID Delegate Badging & Management Fee: ₹2,00,000.00
• Total Taxable Supply Value: ₹12,00,000.00
• Central GST (CGST @ 9.0%): ₹1,08,000.00
• State GST (SGST @ 9.0%): ₹1,08,000.00
• Gross Invoice Total: ₹14,16,000.00
• Less Corporate TDS Deduction under Section 194-C (2.0% on Taxable): -₹24,000.00
• Less Advance Token Received (Receipt Voucher #RV-078): -₹4,00,000.00
• Net Balance Due from Corporate Client: ₹9,92,000.00

Managing corporate income tax deductions at source:

• Section 194-C (2.0% TDS for Companies / 1.0% for Individuals): Corporate clients deduct 2% TDS on the taxable value (excluding GST) of turnkey event management contracts.
• Collecting Form 16A TDS Certificates: Collect quarterly Form 16A certificates from corporate accounts to offset advance income tax liabilities.
• Venura TDS Ledger: Automatically logs client TDS deductions, reconciling them against central 26AS tax credits.

Event management agencies charging 18% GST can claim 100% ITC on vendor supplies:

• Audio-Visual & Trussing Subcontractors: Full ITC on rental bills for LED screens, sound systems, and stage scaffolding.
• Artist & Anchor Management Agencies: Full ITC on invoices from casting agencies.
• Venura Cloud OS: Software subscription fees are 100% eligible for Input Tax Credit.

Venura streamlines event management billing:

• One-Click Tally Prime XML Sync: Exports complete sales journals, customer debtor accounts, and CGST/SGST tax ledgers directly into Tally Prime.
• Zero Manual Data Entry: Eliminates double data entry, ensuring on-time GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filings.

For event management agencies with annual aggregate turnover exceeding ₹5 Crores:

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   Mandatory B2B E-Invoicing: Invoices issued to GST-registered corporate clients must be uploaded to the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) to generate an Invoice Reference Number (IRN) and statutory signed QR code.

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   Automated IRN Generation in Venura: Venura integrates with authorized GST Suvidha Providers to generate IRNs in real time, embedding government QR codes directly onto output PDFs.

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   Input Tax Credit Guarantee: Validates corporate client GSTIN checksums to ensure zero tax credit discrepancies in GSTR-2B.

Navigating statutory GST rules on live musical and performing artists:

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   Entry 78 Classical Artist Exemption: Services by a classical music or dance artist are exempt from GST if the total consideration charged is up to ₹1,50,000 per performance.

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   Commercial DJ & Celebrity Performances (18% GST): Contemporary DJs, pop singers, and celebrity performers are strictly taxable at 18% GST under SAC 999612 without exemption.

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   Venura Automated Tax Routing: Auto-applies appropriate tax logic based on artist classification.

Determining Place of Supply rules under Section 12(7) of the IGST Act:

• Intra-State Supply (9% CGST + 9% SGST): Applied when client GSTIN and event location match the agency's registered state.
• Inter-State Supply (18% IGST): Applied when serving out-of-state corporate clients, enabling full ITC in their home state GSTR-2B.
• Venura Automated POS Engine: Auto-detects client GSTIN state codes and applies correct tax splits instantly.