Basic Guide on How to Register for GST in India
Knowing how to register for GST in India is mandatory for businesses providing goods and services in different states of India. Depending on where a business is being carried out in India, it is required by law that a business should register separately at where they are selling.
As of 1st of July 2017, GST has replaced many other taxes such as entertainment tax, service tax and Value added tax (VAT).
Here Are the Steps to Register for GST Online or Digitally
Before registering for GST, do make sure to have the required documents ready. You can request and consult for a checklist from our advisors at 3E Accounting.
Step I: Generate your GST Application form
Enter this website https://www.gst.gov.in/ and register with the required and requested information. After following the instructions provided on the website, you would receive a Temporary Reference Number (TRN). Next, click onto Services > Registration > New Registration option and select the TRN radio button to login using the TRN. Then, in “My Saved Application” there is a form that needs to be completed and submitted within 15 days.
Step II: Filling in your GST Application form
Under the ‘Business’ and the ‘Promoters / Partners’ tab, fill in the required details. In addition, you should provide evidence on your ownership and existence of the business. Do fill in your ‘Authorized Signatory’ if e-sign is used in the form. But do note that the PAN of your Authorized Signatory must be linked to the DSC should you choose to sign in with DSC.
Step III: Digital Signature Certificate registration
It is necessary to digitally sign the form to verify your GST application. Please note that:
- For Companies and LLPs (Limited liability partnerships), DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) is mandatory.
- Only Authorized Signatory mentioned in the registration form can be used for registration and as digital signatures.
If you chose Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) as your method of verification, please have your DSC software installed onto your computer beforehand. These are the main instructions to heed:
- To acquire a DSC (Digital Signature Certificate), certifying authorities from the website (http://www.cca.gov.in/) should be contacted for more information.
- To sign into the GST form, you need to install Emsigner from emsigner.com
Step IV: Other confirmation methods and submission of your GST Application
There are 3 verification approaches to submit the application, DSC, e-signature and EVC.
For DSC, please refer to ‘Step III’.
For other methods, fill in the requested information and you will be greeted with a “Success” message. (Provided the details are inputted correctly) You may then move on to the next section.
*You can monitor your application status with the use of your Application Reference Number (ARN), which is obtained after you verify with one of the 3 methods mentioned earlier.
In your email and mobile phone, you should receive a username, which is your GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Network) number and a password. Login to the GST portal with the given username and password and your registration certificate should be ready to download within 3-5 days.
Services We Provide at 3E Accounting
There are certain categories for a business to be exempted from GST such as governmental services, transportation services and educational services etc. As such, these criteria could be further enquired at our service providers at 3E Accounting as our team of professionals understand that the process of applying for GST may be complicated for some businesses.
