Ink, Compliance, and Cost: Evaluating the Impact of GST on India’s Printing and Packaging MSMEs

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation established an indirect taxation system for India through its creation of distinct operational standards which Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India had to follow. The research studies how GST affects the printing and packaging industry through its impact on cost structure and tax compliance and working capital management and market competitiveness. The research uses primary survey data to conduct quantitative analysis which examines whether GST enhances efficiency through input tax credit benefits while increasing compliance requirements for smaller businesses. The research results show that GST improved tax transparency and supply chain integration but MSMEs faced financial difficulties because of complex procedures and slow input credit processing which occurred during the initial period. The development of standardized taxation systems through formalization enabled businesses to achieve improved accountability while gaining competitive benefits. The research findings show that GST produces diverse effects which presently stabilize their economic impact on the industry.