GST Registration

GST is the product of the biggest tax reform in India which has tremendously improved ease of doing business and increasing the taxpayer base in India by including millions of small businesses. Tax complexities would be reduced due to the abolishing and subsuming of multiple taxes into a single, simple system.

The new GST regime mandates that all entities involved in buying or selling goods or providing services or both are required to register and obtain GSTIN. Registration is mandatory once the entity crosses a minimum threshold turnover or when an individual starts a new business that is expected to cross the prescribed turnover.

Businesses are required to register for GST if they fall into one of the following criteria.

Aggregate turnover

Any service provider who provides a service value of more than Rs. 20 Lakhs aggregate in a year is required to obtain GST registration. In the special category states, this limit is Rs. 10 lakhs. Any entity engaged in the exclusive supply of goods whose aggregate turnover crosses Rs.40 lakhs is required to obtain GST registration.

Inter-state business

An entity shall register for GST if they supply goods inter state, i.e., from one state to another irrespective of their aggregate turnover. Inter state service providers need to obtain GST registration only if their annual turnover exceeds Rs. 20 lakhs. (In special category states, this limit is Rs. 10 lakhs).

E-commerce platform

Any individual supplying goods or services through an e-commerce platform shall apply for GST registration. The individual shall register irrespective of the turnover. Hence, sellers on Flipkart, Amazon and other e-commerce platforms must obtain registration to commence activity.

Casual taxable persons

Any individual undertaking supply of goods, services seasonally or intermittently through a temporary stall or shop must apply for GST. The individual shall apply irrespective of the annual aggregate turnover.

Voluntary registration

Any entity can obtain GST registration voluntarily. Earlier, any entity who obtained GST voluntarily could not surrender the registration for up to a year. However, after revisions, voluntary GST registration can be surrendered by the applicant at any time.

GST Return Filing

GST return filing is mandatory for all entities having GST registration, irrespective of business activity or sales or profitability during the return filing period. Hence, even a dormant business that obtained GST registration must file GST return. 

GST registration holders are required to file GSTR-3B return every month providing details of sales and purchases made in a month. 

In addition to GSTR-3B return, businesses registered under GST must file GSTR-1 return every month for businesses having annual revenue of over Rs. 1.5 crores. In case a business has a yearly revenue of less than Rs. 1.5 crores, GST return can be filed quarter.