Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services across India. Introduced on 1st July 2017, GST replaced multiple indirect taxes such as VAT, Service Tax, Excise Duty and others, creating a unified "One Nation, One Tax" system. GST registration is mandatory for businesses whose aggregate annual turnover exceeds the prescribed threshold (₹40 lakh for goods and ₹20 lakh for services, with lower limits for special category states), as well as for certain categories of suppliers irrespective of turnover. On successful registration, a business receives a unique 15-digit Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN), enabling it to collect tax, claim Input Tax Credit and operate as a legally compliant supplier.
| Aspect | Regular Scheme | Composition Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover Limit | No upper limit | Up to ₹1.5 crore |
| Tax Rate | Standard GST rates (5%-28%) | Fixed lower rate (1%-6%) |
| Input Tax Credit | Can claim ITC | Cannot claim ITC |
| Tax Invoice | Issues tax invoice | Issues bill of supply |
| Inter-State Sales | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Return Filing | Monthly / quarterly returns | Quarterly payment, annual return |
| Compliance | Higher compliance | Simplified compliance |
| Best Suited For | Medium & large businesses | Small businesses & traders |
The turnover limit is ₹40 lakh for goods and ₹20 lakh for services in most states. For special category states, the limit is ₹10 lakh for goods and ₹20 lakh for services.
GST registration is mandatory only if your turnover exceeds the threshold limit. However, voluntary registration is recommended to claim Input Tax Credit and for interstate sales.
CGST and SGST are collected by Central and State governments respectively for intra-state supplies. IGST is collected by the Central government for inter-state supplies and imports.
ITC allows you to claim credit for GST paid on purchases and use it to offset your GST liability on sales. This prevents cascading effect of taxation.
Yes, you can voluntarily register for GST even if your turnover is below the threshold limit. This is beneficial for claiming ITC and interstate sales.
Composition Scheme is a simplified taxation scheme with lower tax rates (1%-6%) for small businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore. However, they cannot claim ITC or do interstate sales.
With Aadhaar authentication, GST registration typically takes 7-10 working days. Without Aadhaar authentication, it may take 15-20 working days.
Regular taxpayers need to file GSTR-1 (outward supplies) and GSTR-3B (summary return) monthly or quarterly. Annual return GSTR-9 is also required. Composition taxpayers file quarterly returns.
Yes, if you operate in multiple states, you need separate GST registration for each state where you have a place of business.
The penalty for non-registration is 10% of the tax due (minimum ₹10,000). In case of deliberate tax evasion, the penalty can be 100% of the tax due.
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