Who must register?
GST registration is mandatory if your annual turnover crosses ₹40 lakhs for goods (₹20 lakhs for services), or ₹20/10 lakhs in special category states. It's also mandatory regardless of turnover if you: sell on e-commerce platforms like Amazon or Flipkart, make inter-state supplies, are liable under reverse charge, or are a non-resident taxable person.
Why register even if you're below the limit?
Voluntary registration lets you claim Input Tax Credit on purchases, makes you eligible to sell to companies (most insist on GST invoices), and adds credibility with clients and lenders. For many freelancers and small businesses, the ITC alone pays for the compliance cost.
Documents you'll need
PAN and Aadhaar (mobile-linked), passport photo, business address proof not older than 2 months, rent agreement plus owner's NOC if rented, bank proof, and for companies — the COI, MoA/AoA and a DSC. Our interactive checklist covers every case.
Timeline and process
With correct documents, registration typically completes in 3–7 working days. The application goes through the GST portal with Aadhaar authentication; officers may ask clarifications, and a wrong reply can stretch this to weeks — which is exactly why professional filing pays for itself.
The mistakes that get applications rejected
Address proof older than 2 months, name mismatches between PAN and Aadhaar, missing NOC from the property owner, and choosing wrong business categories. Each rejection restarts the clock.