GST
GST Registration
GSTIN issued, with your first return filed at no extra charge.
GST registration is free on the government portal, which raises a fair question: why pay anyone? The answer is that roughly a third of self-filed applications come back with a clarification notice in Form REG-03, usually over address proof or a mismatch between the business constitution and the documents attached. You then have seven working days to respond or the application is rejected and you start again.
There is also a decision to make before you file. Composition scheme or regular, which state, whether you need multiple registrations, what your principal place of business should be. Getting that wrong is expensive to unwind later.
Who needs this
- Turnover above ₹40 lakh for goods, or ₹20 lakh for services — half those figures in special category states
- Any inter-state supply of goods, regardless of turnover
- Selling through Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho or any e-commerce operator — mandatory from the first rupee
- Anyone required to pay tax under reverse charge
- Casual taxable persons and non-resident taxable persons
- Voluntary registration, where your buyers need input tax credit from you
Documents required
Photographs of documents are fine. Nothing needs printing, notarising or couriering to us.
For the applicant
- PAN of the business or the proprietor
- Aadhaar of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Passport-size photograph
- Digital signature, for companies and LLPs
For the place of business
- Ownership proof — electricity bill, property tax receipt or municipal khata
- Rent agreement plus the owner’s NOC, if the premises are rented
- A recent utility bill for the premises
Bank and constitution
- Cancelled cheque or the first page of the bank statement
- Certificate of Incorporation, partnership deed or LLP agreement, as applicable
- Board resolution or letter of authorisation for the authorised signatory
How the process runs
- Day 1
Structure decided
We work out whether you need regular or composition registration, and whether one registration or several. This conversation happens before anything is filed.
- Day 1
REG-01 filed
Application submitted on the GST portal. You receive the ARN immediately and can track it yourself.
- Day 1–2
Aadhaar authentication
Completed through OTP. If you skip it, the department orders physical verification of premises and the timeline stretches to about 30 days.
- Day 3–7
GSTIN issued
Registration certificate in Form REG-06 is issued, with your 15-digit GSTIN.
- After issue
First return filed free
We file your first GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B at no additional charge, so the compliance cycle starts correctly.
What the fee covers
Included
- Advice on regular versus composition scheme
- REG-01 preparation and filing
- Aadhaar authentication support
- Response to any REG-03 clarification notice
- GST registration certificate
- Your first GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filed free
- HSN or SAC code identification for your products or services
Charged separately
- Ongoing monthly return filing after the first month
- Registration in additional states
- Amendments after registration is granted
- Digital signature certificate, if you do not already have one
Government charges are passed through at cost with the receipt attached to your invoice. We do not mark them up.
Key facts
| Government fee | Nil |
|---|---|
| Threshold — goods | ₹40 lakh (₹20 lakh in special category states) |
| Threshold — services | ₹20 lakh (₹10 lakh in special category states) |
| Primary form | REG-01 |
| Certificate issued in | REG-06 |
| Typical time with Aadhaar authentication | 3–7 working days |
| Time without Aadhaar authentication | Up to 30 days, with physical verification |
Questions people ask
Judgement and follow-through. The common failure is a REG-03 clarification notice, usually over address proof or a constitution mismatch, with a seven-day window to respond before rejection. We also make the decisions that are painful to reverse: composition versus regular, how many registrations, what counts as your principal place of business, and which HSN or SAC codes apply to you.
It depends entirely on who you sell to. If your customers are GST-registered businesses, they want input tax credit and will often prefer a registered supplier. If you sell to consumers, voluntary registration mostly adds monthly filing obligations and the 18% tax on your own invoices. We will tell you honestly which side you fall on.
Yes. Anyone supplying through an e-commerce operator that collects tax at source must register regardless of turnover. There is no threshold exemption for this category, and the marketplaces will not activate your seller account without a GSTIN.
Yes, for most service businesses. You need the electricity bill and, if the property is not in your name, a no-objection certificate from the owner. Where the department has doubts it may order physical verification, which adds time but not usually a rejection.
You can reapply, but the reason for rejection follows the PAN and a second application on the same grounds is scrutinised harder. That is why the REG-03 response window matters so much — it is far easier to answer a clarification properly than to recover from a rejection.
Not sure this is the right filing for you?
Fifteen free minutes with the team. We will tell you which registration applies to your situation — and which ones you have been told you need but do not.
Statutory fees, thresholds and forms described on this page were accurate when last reviewed and are subject to change by the relevant authority. We confirm the current position before filing on your behalf. This page is general information, not advice on your specific situation.