GST Registration Basics — Thresholds, Documents, and Whether You Even Need It
GST registration is mandatory once turnover crosses ₹40 lakh for goods (₹20 lakh for services; ₹10–20 lakh in special-category states) — and immediately, regardless of turnover, for interstate goods supply and selling through e-commerce operators. Registration is free on gst.gov.in and takes about a week with Aadhaar authentication. Below thresholds, weigh voluntary registration: input credit and B2B credibility vs monthly compliance.
कायदेशीर मुदती
- 30 days — Register within 30 days (of becoming liable)
- ~7 working days — Application processing (with Aadhaar authentication)
- Monthly/quarterly — Returns after registration (GSTR-1/3B cycles (QRMP option))
- Fin-year based — Composition option (turnover to ₹1.5 crore, 1–6% rates)
पायरी-पायरीने: काय करावं
- 1
Do you actually need it?
Thresholds, compulsory categories, and the freelancer nuances.
तपशील पहा
Mandatory when: aggregate turnover crosses ₹40 lakh (goods) / ₹20 lakh (services) (₹20L/₹10L in special-category states); OR regardless of turnover for interstate supply of goods, selling via e-commerce operators (Amazon/Flipkart sellers), casual/non-resident taxable persons, and reverse-charge-liable recipients. Key service nuance: interstate services stay exempt up to ₹20 lakh — freelancers serving clients across India under that figure need not register. Exports are interstate supplies — but service exporters under ₹20 lakh remain exempt from registration.
- 2
Register: free, online, Aadhaar-fast
PAN, Aadhaar, bank, address proof — REG-01 on the portal.
तपशील पहा
आम्ही हे तुमच्यासाठी करतो — ₹199On gst.gov.in: Part A (PAN + mobile/email OTP), Part B (REG-01) with the business details, principal place of business proof (electricity bill + rent agreement/NOC for rented premises — our ₹199 NOC/consent drafting helps here), bank details, photos, and authorised-signatory data. Aadhaar-authenticate for the ~7-working-day track (skipping it invites physical verification and ~30 days). GSTIN + certificate download on approval. The government charges nothing — "GST registration fees" quoted online are agent fees.
- 3
Choose the scheme: regular vs composition
Input credit + B2B vs flat low tax and light filing.
तपशील पहा
Regular: charge GST at your rate, claim input tax credit, file GSTR-1/3B (monthly, or QRMP quarterly-with-monthly-payment below ₹5 crore). Composition (goods to ₹1.5 crore; services to ₹50 lakh): flat 1% (traders/manufacturers), 5% (restaurants), 6% (services) on turnover, minimal filing (CMP-08 quarterly) — but no input credit, no interstate supply, no tax collection from customers. B2B businesses and exporters live on the regular scheme; small local B2C often fits composition.
- 4
After the GSTIN: the hygiene that avoids notices
Invoices, returns even if nil, e-way bills — and cancellation.
तपशील पहा
आम्ही हे तुमच्यासाठी करतो — ₹299Compliance floor: GST-compliant invoices (GSTIN, HSN/SAC, rate-wise breakup), returns even when nil (non-filing auto-cancels registrations and blocks e-way bills), reconcile input credit against GSTR-2B monthly, and generate e-way bills for goods movement ₹50,000+. Display the certificate at premises and GSTIN on signage/website. Winding down or dipping below thresholds: apply for cancellation properly and file the final return — abandoned GSTINs breed notices for years. A ₹299 consultation maps your first-year calendar.
खर्च आणि काय अपेक्षित
- Free
Registration on gst.gov.in
Agent "fees" are for their service, not govt
- ₹199
Premises NOC/consent drafting
The common documentation gap
- ₹500–2,500/month
Monthly compliance (outsourced)
Market accountant rates by volume
- ₹299
Setup consultation
Threshold check + scheme choice
This is a legal-process overview, not tax advice — rates, thresholds and scheme fit change with notifications and your specific supplies; confirm current positions with a GST practitioner before acting.
या अडचणीसाठी मोफत नमुने
वारंवार विचारले जाणारे प्रश्न
I freelance for clients in other states, earning ₹12 lakh. Must I register?
No — interstate SERVICES enjoy the ₹20 lakh threshold exemption (unlike interstate goods, which trigger registration from rupee one). Track aggregate turnover across all your income sources though; crossing ₹20 lakh obliges registration within 30 days.
Do I need GST to sell on Amazon/Flipkart?
For goods, yes — supplying through an e-commerce operator requires registration regardless of turnover (the platforms enforce it at onboarding). Limited relaxations exist for certain intra-state service suppliers via ECOs. Factor the monthly compliance before listing.
Should I register voluntarily below the threshold?
Register if: your clients are B2B (they want your GSTIN and credit), you claim input credit on significant purchases, or tenders/platforms demand it. Stay out if you serve B2C locally under threshold — voluntary registration binds you to full compliance with no exit until cancellation.
What happens if I crossed the threshold months ago and never registered?
Liability runs from the day you became liable: expect registration with effect from then, tax on the intervening supplies (possibly from your pocket — you didn't collect it), interest, and penalty (10% of tax or ₹10,000 minimum; higher for suppression). Regularise voluntarily before a notice finds you — the economics only worsen.
Rented office and the landlord won't give an electricity bill. What works as address proof?
The standard stack: rent agreement + landlord's NOC/consent letter + any utility bill/property-tax receipt of the premises (in the landlord's name is fine). Our ₹199 drafting covers the NOC and consent formats registrars accept; co-working spaces issue their own standard letters.
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हे पृष्ठ फक्त सर्वसामान्य माहितीसाठी नेहमीची कायदेशीर प्रक्रिया समजावतं. हा कायदेशीर सल्ला नाही. तुमच्या परिस्थितीसाठी पात्र वकिलाचा सल्ला घ्या.