Two different taxes appear on an Indian holiday quote and only one of them is a cost to you. This page is the short operational version: what we put on your quote, what we need from you, and what you get back. For the full explanation of how TCS works, read the guide linked below.
What you will see on an Olio quote
Three numbers, never one:
| Line | What it is | Do you get it back? |
|---|---|---|
| Package value | The trip itself, per person on twin sharing | No — it is the price |
| GST at 5% | Tax on tour operator services, charged without input tax credit | No — a real cost |
| TCS (overseas packages only) | Tax collected in advance under Section 206C(1G) and deposited against your PAN | Yes — credited against your income tax when you file |
If any operator gives you a single all-in figure and cannot break it down this way, ask them to. An operator that cannot produce the split is not accounting for it properly.
GST is a cost. TCS is not.
GST at 5% on the package value is money that leaves you and does not come back. TCS is different in kind: it is your own income tax, paid early, on your behalf. It lands in your Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement against your PAN, reduces your tax liability rupee for rupee at filing, and is refunded to you if it exceeds what you owe.
The TCS rate on overseas tour packages was reduced in the Union Budget presented in 2026, and it has changed more than once in recent years. We state the rate that applies on the day we invoice you, in rupees, on the quote itself.
The full guide: TCS on foreign tour packages, and what Indian travellers actually pay — thresholds, how the money comes back, and what to do at filing time.
What we need from you
- Your PAN, correct and Aadhaar-linked, at the time of booking. Without it the collection happens at a higher rate and cannot be traced back to you, which means you cannot claim it.
- The name on the PAN matched to the traveller. TCS is credited to the person whose PAN it is collected against, so if one person is paying for four travellers, tell us who the payer is.
What we issue you
- A tax invoice showing package value, GST and TCS as separate lines, with our GSTIN on it.
- The TCS certificate (Form 27D) for the amount collected, which is what you keep for filing.
Check this on your invoice before you pay
Four things worth thirty seconds
- Is GST shown as its own line at 5% of the package value, with a GSTIN printed on the invoice?
- On an overseas package, is TCS shown separately, with both the rate and the rupee amount?
- Is your PAN on the invoice, spelled correctly?
- Does the invoice name the same legal entity as the bank account you are being asked to pay?
The last one is a payment-fraud check as much as a tax one. How payment works covers the rest of it.
This is not tax advice
Rates, thresholds and rules change with each Union Budget, and your own position depends on facts we do not have. Confirm anything that matters against the Income Tax Department or with a chartered accountant before you rely on it. We will tell you the rate we are applying and show you where it appears on your invoice; we cannot tell you what your tax liability will be.