One of the first things you must do if you plan to start a business or are already running one is to register with the Department of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Let’s gain a grasp on what GST is before diving into the specifics of registering your business for it. With the introduction of GST registration in 2022, the government sought to streamline the process of filing tax returns for businesses.
A unified indirect tax structure now applies to both service and manufacturing industries. The Products and Services Tax (GST) policy is a destination-based taxation model in which goods and services are taxed not where they are produced but where they are used.
There are four separate tax slabs for GST in India, at 5, 12, 18, and 28 percent, depending on the nature of the firm.
GST for businesses
In the long run, GST is predicted to make goods and services cheaper for consumers.
Service tax, value-added tax, central sales tax, etc. were among the many taxes levied by the federal and state governments in the years before the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented. Almost all of these indirect levies are now covered by the GST, which should help reduce the domino effect of taxation.
Companies can benefit from GST in other ways as well, including a straightforward registration process. It avoids extra expenses caused by states’ varying tax policies.
All GST transactions are completed online, which supports the Indian government’s goal of making it easier for companies to operate in the country. Businesses would be required to register for a national sales tax under the GST policy.
An Overview of the Input Tax Credit
When deciding whether or not to register for GST, businesses should keep the input tax credit in mind.
The term “input tax credit” refers to the process by which a business can recoup some of the sales tax it pays by deducting the amount of tax it initially paid on purchases of goods and services.
Here’s an illustration: you just paid 10% in taxes on a purchase of Rs 100. Then you change your customer Rs 150 for the goods plus Rs 15 in sales tax. There is a governmental fee of Rs 15 that you must pay. However, you only need to pay Rs. 5 in tax because you’ve already paid Rs. 10, which is your input tax credit.
However, this input tax credit may be unavailable to you if you have not registered your business for GST. It’s possible that you won’t be able to claim input tax credits while p
aying GST under the composition scheme. Now that you know the benefits of GST registration for your company, you’ll need to find out how to apply for GST registration and what information is needed.
Types of GST registration
To ensure you have the correct GST registration for your situation, it’s important to understand the different sorts of taxpayers. In India, GST is offered to commercial entities in the following ways:
The standard threshold for registering as a taxable individual is an annual gross merchandise sales total of more than Rs 40 lakh. If your company is located in the North Eastern region or in one of the hilly regions like Uttara hand, Jammu and Kashmir, or Himachal Pradesh, the maximum is Rs 10 lakh. In India, firms that primarily provide services and have yearly revenues of up to Rs 20 lakh (or Rs 10 lakh in certain states) are eligible to register as normal taxable individuals and pay taxes accordingly.
Casual: This GST registration is for those whose business activities are sporadic or seasonal.
Construction: This is for organizations with an annual turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore. The total sales of a composition taxpayer are subject to a tax at a predetermined rate.
Non-resident: Whoever is not an Indian citizen but is providing services or goods to India must register as a “foreign supplier.”
How to get your company GST-registered in easy steps:
The GST portal serves as the central hub for all GST-related tasks, including as registering, filing returns, and making tax payments. To register your company for GST, you must first provide all necessary information about yourself and your company, and then verify that information using a one-time password.
Instructions for establishing a GST account for your company are as follows:
- To access the GST portal, please visit https://www.gst.gov.in.
- To begin the registration process, go to the “Services” menu.
- Select “New registration” and then “Taxpayer” from the submenu.
- Put in your company’s PAN number, address, and district in the space provided. Your email address and phone number (if you have one) will also be required fields of information. A one-time password (OTP) and subsequent entry will yield a provisional reference number.
- If you enter this reference number, you’ll receive a second OTP to double-check your identity. After the verification is complete, you’ll be redirected to the section of the application you saved earlier, where you can complete any further fields (such as your contact information). We’ll also need you to submit these papers:
- Aadhaar
- PAN card
- Address proof of your business
- Your bank statement and a cancelled cheque
- Proof of business registration or incorporation
- Digital signature
- Identity and address proof of the director/promoter, apart from photographs
- Authorization letter from a signatory (authorized) or board resolution
- You may check your registration status on the GST site using the application reference number you will get after submitting the paperwork.
GST registration with Aadhaar number
In addition, GST registration is available to those who verify their identity using Aadhaar. These are the stages of the procedure:
- Aadhaar authentication will be an option throughout the registration process.
- To verify your identity, follow the authentication link and enter your Aadhar number. Select Validate and click etc.
- In order to finish the registration procedure, you will be given an OTP to input when the data have been matched.
After having your application reviewed, you may use the GST site to receive your GST registration certificate. This certificate of GST enrollment is documentary evidence.
Conclusion
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an important new tax system. Taxation is simplified and made more transparent by the introduction of GST for enterprises. In order to register your company for GST, business owners can go to the GST site and follow the simple instructions provided there.
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