Ankit Rahangdale is a seasoned finance professional with a distinguished background as a Chartered Accountant. Currently, he leads the Finance Department at Pice. With over five years of invaluable experience in the banking and finance sector, honing his expertise through esteemed institutions such as ICICI Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.
A GST Registration Certificate is mandatory proof for businesses with a turnover above Rs. 20 lakhs to operate legally under GST in India.
You can easily obtain and download your GST Registration Certificate online through the GST portal at no cost.
The certificate includes vital details like GSTIN, taxpayer information, business locations, and authorized individuals.
Regular GST certificates remain indefinitely valid unless cancelled, while casual taxpayer certificates have a validity of 90 days.
Timely registration and updates to your GST certificate details help avoid penalties and ensure compliance with tax laws.
The GST Registration Certificate is a vital document issued to businesses and individuals who have successfully registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India. This certificate serves as proof of registration and is mandatory for businesses to conduct taxable supplies.
It contains essential details like the GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number), business name, address, and the type of taxpayer. While the GST system has eliminated the cascading effect of indirect taxes, compliance starts with acquiring and maintaining the GST certificate. Fortunately, the GST portal has made it easy to download the GST Registration Certificate online.
Read on to know all about how to get a GST registration certificate online by following a simple process and other details regarding it.
What is a GST Registration Certificate?
The GST Registration Certificate is a recognized legal document in India that serves as evidence of GST registration. Any individual, business, or entity that runs business operations in India and has an annual turnover of more than Rs. 20 lakhs must mandatorily apply for GST registration.
Before going ahead with the steps to get a GST registration certificate, let us learn about the different classifications of different individuals and entities who register for GST certificates:
Casual Taxpayers - They are individuals and entities who occasionally manage to conduct taxable transactions under a jurisdiction without the status of being a regular taxpayer.
Regular Taxpayers - They run a company or earn daily income in a particular place and ensure compliance with the tax rules. A few examples of such compliance can be filing paperwork or even paying taxes.
Non-Resident - People conduct taxable activities in a country where they do not hold a permanent residency or establishment. These people are also required to fulfil their tax-related obligations even as non-residents. Their tax duties are distinct from regular taxpayers who run business operations in that said jurisdiction.
Composition Taxable Person - These taxpayers choose a simple compliance scheme and pay only a fixed percentage of their generated turnover as tax.
How to Get a GST Registration Certificate?
The process of obtaining a GST registration certificate is simple. It involves visiting the official GST portal, www.gst.gov.in. Any qualified person can submit an application for GST registration.
After registering, an officer verifies the application and approves it accordingly. If the application for this legal document is submitted within 30 days from the day of conducting GST registration, then the document of proof, the GST certificate, will not be delayed.
Whereas, if the submission or filing for getting a GST certificate was delayed after completing with GST registration then it might get delayed a bit.
Steps to Download the GST Registration Certificate
In order to download a pdf of the GST certificate online, follow this simple process. You will need your GST Portal account details to get the certificate for the GST registration application. Here is a 5-step process to download the GST registration application certificate:
Step 1: First, head over to the GST portal.
Step 2: Then click on the button labelled as "login" to access your username and password.
Step 3: Next, enter your GST portal login credentials, such as username and password. You will also have to fill in a captcha and click log in.
Step 4: Now, navigate to services>user services>download/view certificate.
Step 5: Finally, select the "download" button on the screen to complete the GST certificate download PDF.
By following the registration steps and download process provided above, you can obtain proof of this much-needed legal document.
What Details are Included in the GST Registration Certificate?
The GST registration certificate issued by taxpayers after obtaining GST registration has a lot of crucial details. Here is a list of GST registration certificate details that are included in the legal document:
Taxpayer trade name and their legal name
Business owner details
GSTIN
Extra places of businesses
List of individuals authorised
State and central jurisdiction
Business locations
Validity of the GST Registration Certificate
The GST registration proof or physical certificate of GST registration remains valid for 30 days from the initial date when a person or entity becomes liable for GST registration. Alternatively, the registration can be valid from the date of grant of the certificate according to CGST Rules 9(5), 9(3), and 9(1).
Suppose the certificate of proof of registration falls under delay by an officer according to CGST Rule 9(5). In that case, the officer must send a signed resignation certificate within 3 working days.
The official document of GST registration or the certificate does not have an expiry limit if issued to regular taxpayers. As long as the crucial document of GST registration is valid and not cancelled, it will remain valid.
For a casual taxable person, the PDF document of the GST registration certificate remains valid for ninety days, after which the certificate becomes invalid. However, in this instance, the taxpayer can extend the validity period or even renew it by the end of the validity period.
What are the Charges for Getting a GST Registration Certificate?
According to GST law, no fees are needed to obtain GST registration independently through the GST portal. This means you can make a GST-compliant business by registering for free without paying any charges to the government.
However, certain situations can incur costs for the process of creating GST-registered businesses. For instance, if a GST professional helps with registration, it will incur fees. You can avoid that by simply registering on the portal yourself, as the process is very easy.
There is also a penalty induced for not being able to do GST registration of businesses:
For not registering despite being required to do so, a penalty of Rs. 10,000 or 10% (whichever is higher) of the tax due must be paid.
A penalty charge of the tax amount or Rs. 10,000 (whichever is higher) is required for collecting GST but not depositing it with the government within 3 months.
What Changes Can be Made in the GST Registration Certificate?
You can make changes to the details of your GST registration. This is also referred to as ‘Amendment of GST Registration’. It refers to updating or modifying the details provided during the initial registration of GST. This actively enables the registered entities and individuals to make changes in information regarding the following categories:
Business details
Contact details
Business activities
Address of business
Board of trustees, etc.
It could also include relevant information other than the categories mentioned above, but it has to be valid credentials regarding the business owner or the company itself.
Process to Make Changes in the GST Registration Certificate
When GST registration details become outdated, there is a need to update them to ensure compliance with GST regulations. Modifying the GST online registration form has two categories: Core Fields and Non-Core Fields. It is very quick to change both core and non-core fields. Here is an overview of both types of processes.
Application of Amendment of Core Fields
They include changes to deletion or addition to the list of persons as stakeholders, place of business, name of the company and additional place of business. The steps to make changes to core fields are:
Step 1: First, head over to the official GST portal.
Step 2: Then click on the button labelled 'login' to access the username and password page and enter your details.
Step 3: To log in, you will then have to enter your username and password and complete a captcha in the required field.
Step 4: After logging in, select the Service tab. Then select the option labelled 'Amendment of Registration Core Fields'.
Step 5: Now you must enter all the relevant details you have been asked for.
Step 6: After making all the changes, click on continue.
Step 7: The portal will show a message after successful verification.
Step 8: After 15 minutes or so, you will receive a notification with verification on your registered mail and phone number.
Step 9: Download the modified registration certificate to maintain business compliance.
Application of Amendment of Non-Core Fields
Tax officials do not require approval for non-core fields; they are auto-updated after a successful filing. This includes changing the trade name, changing the phone number, etc. The steps to make changes to non-core fields are:
Step 1: First, head over to the official GST portal.
Step 2: Then click on the login button to access the username and password page and enter your details.
Step 3: You must enter your username and password to complete a captcha in the required field to log in.
Step 4: After logging in, select the Service tab > Amendment of Registration Non-Core Fields.
Step 5: Select the necessary fields to make the changes/amendments.
Step 6: The portal will show a message after successful verification.
Step 7: You will receive a confirmation email and contact number for your registered email address. Then, you can download the modified GST registration certificate.
Conclusion
Obtaining a GST Registration Certificate is essential for businesses operating under the GST regime in India. From registering online to downloading the certificate and updating relevant details, the process is simple and streamlined through the official GST portal.
By ensuring timely registration and compliance, businesses can avoid penalties and stay aligned with tax regulations. Whether you're a regular taxpayer or fall under a special category, maintaining an accurate GST certificate supports smooth operations and long-term business credibility.
💡If you want to streamline your payment and make GST payments via credit or debit card or UPI, consider using the PICE App. Explore the PICE App today and take your business to new heights.
FAQs
Who needs a GST Registration Certificate?
Anyone operating a business in India with an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 20 lakhs must mandatorily obtain a GST Registration Certificate. This applies to regular taxpayers, casual taxable persons, non-residents conducting taxable transactions, and those opting for the composition scheme. The certificate serves as legal proof of GST registration and compliance. Obtaining this certificate enables businesses to legally collect and remit GST to the government. Not registering can result in significant penalties.
How do I download my GST Registration Certificate online?
You can download your GST Registration Certificate easily via the GST portal (www.gst.gov.in). First, log in to your account using your GST credentials. After logging in, navigate to "Services" > "User Services" > "View/Download Certificate." Click the "Download" button to save a PDF copy of the certificate. This digital certificate acts as valid proof for conducting GST-compliant transactions.
What is the validity period of a GST Registration Certificate?
For regular taxpayers, a GST Registration Certificate remains valid indefinitely unless cancelled or suspended. However, certificates issued to casual taxable persons are valid only for 90 days from the date of registration. After 90 days, these certificates must be renewed or extended as needed. If there's a delay in issuing the certificate by tax authorities, temporary validity rules apply. Maintaining an active GST certificate is essential for continued business compliance.
Can I make changes to my GST Registration details?
Yes, GST registration details can be modified through a process called "Amendment of GST Registration." Core fields, such as business address or stakeholder information, require approval from tax authorities. Non-core fields, like phone numbers or email addresses, can be updated instantly without official verification. Changes can be made directly through your GST portal account under the "Services" tab. Keeping your details updated helps ensure smooth compliance and avoids confusion.
What penalties apply for non-compliance with GST Registration?
If a business fails to register under GST despite being eligible, a penalty of Rs. 10,000 or 10% of the due tax amount (whichever is higher) will be charged. If a business collects GST but does not deposit it within three months, it faces a penalty equal to the unpaid tax amount or Rs. 10,000 (whichever is higher). Timely registration and compliance are critical to avoid these heavy penalties. Regular audits by tax authorities may further identify and penalize any instances of non-compliance.
Ankit Rahangdale is a seasoned finance professional with a distinguished background as a Chartered Accountant. Currently, he leads the Finance Department at Pice. With over five years of invaluable experience in the banking and finance sector, honing his expertise through esteemed institutions such as ICICI Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.
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