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No cost EMI & credit card EMI calculator (with GST)

See what a card EMI — even a “no cost” one — really costs after GST on interest and fees.

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EMI type
₹
%
months
₹
%

Extra you pay vs paying upfront

₹692

"No-cost" still costs ₹692 here — GST on the interest plus the processing fee.

Monthly EMI
₹10,000
+ GST on interest (month 1)
₹129
Upfront discount (covers interest)
₹2,540
GST on interest
₹457
Processing fee + GST
₹235
Effective APR
3.97%
Assumptions behind this estimate
  • No-cost EMI: the merchant gives an upfront discount equal to the interest, so your EMIs add up to the purchase price. GST on that interest is still charged to you.
  • GST is charged monthly on the interest portion of each EMI, and once on the processing fee.
  • Processing fee is charged once, at conversion. Some banks charge it in the first statement.
  • Effective APR treats the purchase amount as the benefit received today and the processing fee, EMIs and GST as payments.
  • Excludes late fees, foreclosure charges and any change to your card's reward points.

Full methodology and formulas

Extra you pay vs paying upfront

₹692

Worked example: why no cost EMI still costs money

Take a ₹60,000 phone on a 6-month no cost EMI. The bank's EMI interest rate is 15% a year and the processing fee is ₹199.

  1. EMI: price ÷ months = ₹10,000.
  2. Discount: the bank lends you ₹57,460, and the merchant covers the ₹2,540 difference as an upfront discount. That discount equals the interest built into your EMIs.
  3. GST on interest: charged at 18% on the interest part of each EMI, so it falls month by month, from ₹129 in month 1 to ₹22 in the last month. Total: ₹457.
  4. GST on the processing fee: 18% of ₹199 is ₹36, so the fee costs ₹235 in all.

So the “no cost” EMI costs ₹692 more than paying upfront. A standard card EMI on the same purchase costs ₹3,364, an effective 19.1% a year:

₹60,000 over 6 months at 15% p.a., ₹199 processing fee, GST 18%
No cost EMIStandard card EMI
Monthly EMI₹10,000₹10,442
Interest₹2,540 (covered by the discount)₹2,652
GST on interest₹457₹477
Processing fee + GST₹235₹235
Total you pay₹60,692₹63,364
Effective APR4.0%19.1%
Extra cost to you₹692₹3,364

Why card EMI interest has GST and loan interest doesn't

Interest on loans is exempt from GST, but the exemption (Sl. No. 27(a) of Notification No. 12/2017-Central Tax (Rate)) leaves out "interest involved in credit card services". So the interest in a card EMI is taxed, while the interest on a personal, home or car loan isn't. Fees aren't interest, so the processing fee is taxed on any loan (CBIC Circular No. 102/21/2019-GST). The rate for financial services is 18%: 9% central tax plus 9% state tax. Sources are on the methodology page.

Weighing a card EMI against a loan? Check the loan's actual interest rate with processing fee and GST on the same basis.

How this works

How we calculate the true extra cost of standard and no-cost credit card EMIs, including GST on interest and processing fees, and an effective APR. Read the full methodology, formulas and sources.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate no cost EMI?

Divide the price by the number of months to get the EMI. The bank treats part of each EMI as interest, and the merchant pays that interest upfront as a discount. You still pay GST on that interest, plus any processing fee and the GST on it. The worked example on this page shows each step.

How is GST on credit card EMI calculated?

GST is charged every month on the interest part of that month's EMI, not on the whole EMI, and once on the processing fee. The interest part is largest in the first month, so the GST line on your statement falls month by month. GST on financial services is 18% (9% central tax plus 9% state tax), which the calculator uses by default; you can change it.

Is GST charged on no cost EMI interest?

Yes. Interest on an ordinary loan is exempt from GST, but the exemption leaves out interest involved in credit card services. So the interest inside a credit card EMI is taxable even when the merchant pays it through a discount, while the interest on a personal or home loan is not. The bank adds that GST to your statement each month.

Is no-cost EMI really free?

Usually the interest is offset by an upfront discount, so your EMIs add up to the purchase price. But GST is charged on the interest component, and there is often a processing fee plus GST. Those are the extra costs this calculator shows. If paying in full would get you a discount or cashback that the EMI doesn't, count that too.

What are the charges on a credit card EMI?

Interest (built into each instalment), GST on that interest every month, and a one-time processing fee plus GST. If you close the EMI early, your bank may charge a foreclosure fee, and late fees apply if you miss a card payment. The calculator covers interest, GST and the processing fee; check your bank's EMI terms for the rest.

Does this work for my bank's credit card?

Yes. Every bank's card EMI works the same way. Enter the interest rate, tenure and processing fee shown in your bank's EMI offer or terms, and the GST rate from your statement.

Last reviewed · By ClearRupee Editorial Team