GST registration and filing

What is GST?

GST is known as the Goods and Services Tax. It is an indirect tax which has replaced many indirect taxes in India such as the excise duty, VAT, services tax, etc. The Goods and Service Tax Act was passed in the Parliament on 29th March 2017 and came into effect on 1st July 2017.

There are three taxes applicable under this system: CGST, SGST & IGST.

  • CGST: It is the tax collected by the Central Government on an intra-state sale (e.g., a transaction happening within Uttar Pradesh)
  • SGST: It is the tax collected by the state government on an intra-state sale (e.g., a transaction happening within Uttar Pradesh)
  • IGST: It is a tax collected by the Central Government for an inter-state sale (e.g., Uttar Pradesh to Himachal Pradesh)

Who Must get Registration

  • Previous Law Converted Taxpayer –All individuals or companies registered under the Pre-GST tax laws like Service Tax or Excise or VAT, etc.
  • Turnover for Goods Provider –If your sales or turnover of goods is crossing Rs. 40 lakh in a year then GST Registration is mandatory. For the Special Category Status, the limit is Rs. 20 lakh in a year.
  • Turnover for Service Provider –If you are a service provider & sales or turnover is crossing Rs. 20 lakh in a year then GST Registration is mandatory. For the Special Category Status, the limit is Rs. 10 lakh in a year
  • Casual Taxpayer – If you supply goods or services, in events/exhibitions, and not have a permanent place of doing business. In such cases, GST is charged based on an estimated turnover of 90 days. The validity of the Registration is also 90 days.
  • Agents of Suppliers or Input Service Distributor (ISD) – All supplier agents and ISD, to earn benefits of Input Tax Credit, need GST Registration.
  • NRI Taxable Person – If you are an NRI or handling the business of NRI in India.
  • Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) –Businesses who need to pay taxes under the RCM also need to be GST registered.
  • E-Commerce Portals & Sellers –Every e-commerce portal (such as Amazon or Flipkart) under which multiple vendors are selling their products. Or for all vendors. You need a GST Registration.
  • Outside India Online Portal– For suppliers of online information and database access or retrieval services from a place outside India to Indian Residents.
  • Transferee– When the business has been transferred.
  • Inter-State Operations– Persons making an inter-state supply. Whatever the turnover.
  • Brands – Aggregator who supplies service under his Brand or Trade Name.
  • Other Taxation– Persons who are required to deduct tax u/s 37 (TDS) of the Income Tax Act.
  • Inter-State Registration– If you are a supplier in more than one state you need GST Registration in all the states that you supply goods or services to.
  • Branches – If your business has multiple branches in multiple states, register one particular branch as the main office or head office and the remaining branches as additional. (Not applicable if the business has separate verticals as listed in Section 2 (18) of the CGST Act, 2017.)

Types of GST Returns

Return Form Particulars Frequency Due date
GSTR-1 Details of outward supplies of goods and services Monthly 11th of the next month
GSTR-2 Details of inward supplies of goods and services affected Monthly 15th of the next month
GSTR-3 Monthly return, in the case of finalization of details of outward supplies and inward supplies along with the payment of tax. Monthly 20th of the next month
GSTR-3B It is a simple return in which the summary of outward supplies along with Input Tax Credit is declared and payment of tax is affected by the taxpayer. Monthly 20th of the next month
GSTR-4 For all the taxable person registered under the composition levy Quarterly 18th of the next month after the quarter
GSTR-5 Returns for a non-resident foreign taxable person Monthly 20th of the next month
GSTR-6 Returns for an input service distributor Monthly 13th of the next month
GSTR-7 Returns for authorities deducting TDS Monthly 10th of the next month
GSTR-8 Details of supplies effected through the e-commerce operator and the amount of tax collected Monthly 10th of the next month
GSTR-9 Annual return for a normal taxpayer Annually 31st December of the next financial year
GSTR-9A Annual return of a taxpayer registered under the composition levy anytime during the year Annually 31st December of the next financial year
GSTR-10 Final return Only once, when GST registration is cancelled or surrendered Within 3 months of the date of cancellation or the date of cancellation of order, whichever is later
GSTR-11 Details of inward supplies to be furnished by a person having UIN and claiming a refund Monthly 28th of the following month for which the statement is filed