Your food orders placed online have just become a bit costlier from September 22, 2025. Charges on food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato are liable to an 18 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST). The move, a part of overall GST Council maintenance, has already begun impacting bills.
The shift was picked up by social media with one tweet on X (formerly Twitter) that takes a lighthearted swipe at the new tax regulations.
After historic GST reforms, even Lord Indra has been brought under the tax net.
Now when it rains, you get ₹25 Rain Fee + 18% GST = ₹29.50 😂
Next up:
👉Sunlight Convenience Fee 🌞
👉Oxygen Maintenance Charge 💨
👉GST on Breathing, Pay as you inhale pic.twitter.com/JdtHfr715G— Ashish Gupta (@AshishGupta325) September 22, 2025
After historic GST reforms, even Lord Indra has been brought under the tax net. From today onwards, if it rains, you have to pay Rs 25 Rain Fee + 18% GST = Rs 29.50. Coming next: Sunlight Convenience Fee, Oxygen Maintenance Charge GST on Breathing, Pay as you inhale,” the user posted.
He also posted a screenshot of the usual charges added on his order: restaurant GST of Rs 14.75, rain fee for delivery of Rs 25 with Rs 4.50 GST, restaurant packaging of Rs 20, and a platform charge of Rs 14.99.
Social Media’s Take Is Priceless (Literally)
The post suddenly went viral on social media as it garnered over one lakh views and loads of comments.
One added to the initial joke, stating, “Next in line: Calling bell fee, Petrol/diesel/gas fee, Rider’s vehicle EMI fee, Pothole avoidance fee, and Traffic wait fee.”
Another commented, “Next, they’ll have a ‘Smiling Tax’ for smiles and a ‘Blink Charge’ for each eye blink.”
True! At this speed, sneezing too will be a tax event. ‘One sneeze—Rs 5 health cess + 18 percent GST.’ “Government exchequer = always in green, citizens = always broke!” someone else quipped.
How does the Rs 25 delivery charge guarantee hassle-free delivery by the executive? Also, when did GST come in on the rain fee? If the rain fee is for the delivery executive, how can GST be charged on it?” someone questioned.
In the meantime, someone took a straightforward opinion about the situation and proposed an easy solution: “Pick up that phone and call your local Kirana store. He still offers free delivery. What are you guys made of? Khudka koi dimaag hai bhi ki nahi?”
Also Read: Zomato’s New Ad Going Viral on Social Media, Here’s Why | VIDEO
Why Your Swiggy and Zomato Orders Cost More
The surge in your delivery charges from food outlets is due to a shift in the way GST is charged on online orders. The GST Council has now extended local e-commerce delivery operations under section 9(5) of the Central GST Act. This implies that the electronic commerce operator (ECO) will have to pay GST on the delivery operations it charges for, even when the ECO itself is not necessarily supplying the service.
In the past, delivery fees used to be considered as mere “pass-through” payments to the delivery partner, and GST was inconsistently applied.
With the new regulations, all delivery charges now attract 18 percent GST. As reported by NDTV, quoting Morgan Stanley, Zomato’s average delivery charge during fiscal 2025 was about Rs 11-12, adding Rs 2 in the way of GST. Swiggy’s average charge of Rs 14.5 translates into an additional Rs 2.6 in tax.
For instant-commerce platforms such as Blinkit, charges for delivery were already taxed, so there is no added effect. Swiggy Instamart, with its lower fee of Rs 4 per order, experiences a GST addition of approximately Rs 0.8.
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat Targeted in Funny Delivery Prank – The Outcome Is Priceless | Watch
