A Zomato customer has sparked an online debate after pointing out an unexplained discrepancy in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) charged on the same food order placed through Android and iOS devices. The customer tagged Zomato, its customer care handle, and the official GST Council on X (formerly Twitter), demanding clarity on the matter.
An X user, Prerna Surolia, demanded clarification on the discrepancy in the GST charged on the same food order placed through Android and iOS devices
She took to X and posted two screenshots of the separate bills of the same food item, one ordered through an Android device and the other from an iOS device. The customer noticed that the total GST charged on an identical order varied depending on whether it was placed using an Android or an iPhone.
The disparity in the total amount due to the different GST charged is clearly visible in the bill images. This raised concerns about pricing transparency, platform-based discrimination, and possible flaws in Zomato’s tax calculations.
She tagged @zomato, @zomatocare, and @GST_Council in the post and asked for an explanation for the same. She captioned the post,
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“How is this possible? Different GST on Android and iOS on same price of the article… please explain.”
— user query directed at @zomato, @zomatocare, @GST_Council
Here is the post
How is this possible? Different GST on android and iOS on same price of the article… please explain. @zomato @zomatocare @GST_Council pic.twitter.com/M70achQ8Ci
— Prerna Surolia (@PrernaSurolia) May 6, 2025
While the base price of the food item remained the same, the invoice screenshots showed a different GST amount. This unusual observation sparked questions on how backend billing systems work across platforms.
Zomato came up with a clarification post
The food aggregator app explained that the GST calculation may vary based on the specific discount code applied, as GST applies on the subtotal value ‘post restaurant discount’. They wrote,
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Hi Prerna, please be assured that the GST calculation is accurately done following the GST law. The exact GST amount may fluctuate based on the specific discount code applied, as GST applies on the subtotal value ‘post restaurant discount’. We hope this clarifies your concern. Please feel free to reach out to us for any further queries.
Hi Prerna, please be assured that the GST calculation is accurately done following the GST law. The exact GST amount may fluctuate based on the specific discount code applied, as GST applies on the subtotal value ‘post restaurant discount’. We hope this clarifies your concern.…
— Zomato Care (@zomatocare) May 6, 2025
Though Zomato provided us with an explanation, the incident has reignited debates about transparency in digital billing, especially when third-party platforms handle taxation through complex back-end algorithms.
Have you noticed pricing or tax inconsistencies on delivery apps? Let us know in the comments.
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